Representatives from the CARICOM Secretariat are meeting with Guyanese government officials as Guyana advances preparations to host CARIFESTA 2027. According to reports, the discussions focus on how the festival will be organized and how regional cultural development can be supported through CARIFESTA. The talks also cover opportunities for the creative industries. Guyana’s government is treating the planning as a work stream that involves senior officials and structured engagement with CARICOM, including dialogue with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. The minister leading the cultural portfolio, Charles Ramson Jr, is reported to be part of the discussions. The reporting frames the meetings as part of ongoing coordination ahead of the 16th edition of the Caribbean Festival of Arts, which Guyana is scheduled to host in 2027. The sources describe the engagement with CARICOM as aimed at aligning plans between Guyana and the regional body that supports and coordinates festival participation and cultural priorities.