- Farewell, rest well Hector
rest is history.” In 1972 in Guyana he did it himself. The Caribbean and the wider cultural world of the arts and entertainment were delighted. Slowly, Carifesta became an institutionalised Caribbean–wide mega-event.
Amidst stops and starts the Caricom experts have expanded the scope of the festival. The jury is still out regarding its sustained success.
We - especially the guardians of culture in our own Guyana – must quietly, but with pride and dignity, lift up our varied contributions. In this technological age I understand we’re even taking film and animation. I have confidence that our new faces, young team and cultural administrators on the trip will all do us proud. I know little of our full scale presentations.
But the birthplace of Carifesta has no option but creative excellence; the best. Do us proud next week. farewell to Hector Stoute, a cultural enabler in his own right, over his eight decades.
Hector passed on Sunday, the death anniversary of his hero Forbes Burnham. As I’ll be tempted to pen too many paragraphs, I’ll merely record memories in bulletpoint form.
I met Mr Stoute in the mid-seventies when he helped teach me to drill when he was an officer in the GDF
Then, for years, he was the announcer at Amateur Boxing Tournaments – “This next bout listed number eleven on your card” (No Sports Hall nor Gymnasium in those days.) He was always proud of Bartica where he was taught by my uncle, ABC Fenty. His work for Mashramani, for local Calypso and as Promoter and Television Producer is well-known. He used to be close to the Mighty Sparrow who called him “Tall Boy”.
He moderated numerous events for the PNC, the GGG, then the PNC.
After his last marriage – Promenade Gardens Wedding – he worshipped little daughter Destiny.
One of our numerous loud arguments concerned the origin of the word “Bouviander”.
On Saturdays he would call in consistently to my Cook-Up TV Show. He liked only one of my eleven(11) girlfriends. Knowing him as I did, I know he will try to organise events wherever he is headed. (He will recall when Town Clerk Sooba made him and all other City Councillors meet in the City Hall compound in the hot sun and he will forgive her – even as his Soul Rests in Peace). a
*********************** Ponder, consider…
1) The injured was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but “was transferred to the GPHC for further treatment.” What are these Regional Hospitals for?
2) Great Stabroek News editorial on the demolition of Astor Cinema on 2nd August. I must tell about the “Astor-in-my life” soon.
3) It’s starting? The building of a new Vendors Mall at the Stabroek Co-op Bank site? ’Til next week (allanafenty@yahoo.com)