GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott has criticised regional governments and the private sector for keeping Caribbean artists in a "state of deprivation", as activities continue to mark the 10-day Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA).

And he has called on regional governments to suspend the festival until it is produced professionally.

The St Lucian-born Walcott, who participated in a panel discussion on 'Caribbean Culture at the Crossroads: Seeking the Past, Living the Present, Exploring the Future', said that disadvantaged Caribbean artists are further insulted by the staging of CARIFESTA every two years.

"What is there to celebrate?" asked the internationally celebrated poet and playwright, who has often suggested scrapping the event.

"You are killing your artists," added Walcott, who described theatre in his native St Lucia as "an abomination", blaming greed and corruption for the state of affairs.

Walcott further accused regional governments of prostituting themselves in the name of development.

"We are selling our lands like whores and calling it development," he said. "Don't let this continue, or something terrible is going to happen."