-none printed in the region

The fulfilment of a pledge made by President Bharrat Jagdeo during the Carifesta X celebrations to fund the establishment of a regional publishing house in Guyana has so far seen the republishing of 12 books of the Guyana Classics Series, although none has been printed within the region.

In June the Government Information Agency (GINA) in a press release stated that the Publishing House had been established in Guyana subsequent to the President’s commitment made during the Carifesta X celebrations which were held locally. According to GINA, the President had allocated US$100,000 annually towards the establishment of the Caribbean Publishing House.  The pledge by the Head of State came after UK-based Guyanese Professor David Dabydeen, during one of the symposia for the festival, called for the establishment of such a facility saying it was long overdue.

On Thursday Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony said that the 12 books that had been published were part of the 36 books of the Guyana Classics Series which the editorial board of the house had set out to republish. According to him, the 12 that had already been republished had been specially selected and scholarly insights had been added to them.  Among this set was The Discoverie of Guiana… by Sir Walter Ralegh, Anthony said. The twelve publications are expected to be launched early in the year and are expected to be made available in libraries and bookstores.

These books were, however, printed outside of the region and the Minister said this was primarily because of concerns that the required quality would not be obtained if the books were printed in Guyana or the region.  Anthony said, however, that efforts were being made to ensure that the next publications were at least printed within the region if not in Guyana.

Professor Dabydeen is the editor for the publishing house, while the editorial board comprises several outstanding Caribbean writers such as Derek Walcott, Earl Lovelace and Pauline Melville.

GINA had quoted Dabydeen as saying the press would provide jobs for Guyanese while increasing the intellectual capacity as well as the printing capacity in the county.  Dabydeen, according to GINA, said that the establishment of the publishing house was an act of independence and that it “could be something of excellence.”

He had opined that some Caribbean writers felt that for too long they have been subjected to the imperialistic process where the raw material of their imagination had to be sent to London to be converted into a book and then returned at a high price.