Dear Editor,
It is clear to see that overseas publishers are coming down on us to do what is right by saying that the Guyanese government has not contacted publishers to discuss the supply of legitimate textbooks, which makes the government’s claim that this illegal action is justified by a concern over price totally redundant and disingenuous, if not hypocritical.
I don’t think the government should listen to them because I am being robbed worldwide of millions of dollars, I am a singer and songwriter; I am associated with two copyright organizations – the US Copyright Office and the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago as a international artist. I have signed up with distributing companies TuneCore, CD Baby and SongCast. Most of those online stores have advertising links and links to radio stations. However, they have broken the agreement they made with me; CD Baby’s payment date ended on March 25, 2011 and according to international copyright law that company has to pay US$500,000 for overdue time along with the standard amount. They are 16 months late, and I haven’t had a single cent.
I contacted the copyright organization in Trinidad with this problem and was told I would be paid on August 16 this year, but I got nothing. When I am paid then the Guyanese government can think about paying those publishers.
Yours faithfully,
Lee Darrel
