Dear Editor,

December 25, 2009 will mark nine months since many Guyanese artists submitted their entries of paintings relating to the Cubana Air Disaster to the Ministry of Local Government. This competition carries a first prize only of one million dollars, and the deadline date entry was March 25, 2009.

These paintings had to be done on a large canvas whose size was specified by the ministry; various criteria on which they were to be judged were also stated. Many artists who participated had to make a study of monuments, especially those relating to airline disasters; they had to brainstorm for their piece to connect to the criteria stipulated by the Ministry of Local Government. Their creativity had to be splendid, so as to be competitive for the first prize; their design and colours had to be interpreted to suit this competition.

When we submitted these paintings, the personnel at the ministry did not give us a ledger or any book to sign acknowledging receipt of same. Most artists are poor people; they borrowed and they begged, or obtained on trust or credit the materials needed when entering big competitions, hoping for a win.

Would someone tell me, what has happened to our paintings? Are they stored properly from damage caused by weather conditions, are they packed on top of each other, etc?

When will they be judged? What is the reason they have not been judged as yet? Are there no art judges in Guyana? Was there a cancellation and no one said anything? What really did the hosting of Carifesta mean to our artists? We want to know.

Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)

Editor’s note

We are sending a copy of this letter to Mr Seewchan, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development for any comments he might wish to make.