Caribbean Festival of Arts twice. Once in 2008 when Guyana took up the challenge and again in 2010 when they had shown no intentions of hosting it. The future of CARIFESTA seems to be strengthening as Haiti bids to host the event in 2015. During an address at the 33rd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community, hosted in July 2012 in Saint Lucia, Haitian President Michel Martelly asserted that receiving CARIFESTA in his country would make it possible to increase cultural relations with other neighbouring nations. Caribbean Festival of Arts Caribbean Festival of Arts, commonly known as CARIFESTA, is
Michel Martelly "Ou La La", which became an instant hit, followed by "Konpas 'Foret des Pins'" in 1989, also from his debut album "Ou La La". During the period of about 1988-2008 Martelly, using his stage name Sweet Micky, recorded fourteen studio albums and a number of live CDs. His music features slow méringue, compas, troubadour, carnival méringue, rabòday, etc. In 1997, Martelly's crossover appeal to other musical genres was evident when hip hop star, Wyclef Jean of The Fugees featured him on the title track for Jean's solo effort "Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival featuring the Refugee Allstars". As Jean proclaims