Dear Editor,
In the wake of the brief exchange between yours truly and Mr Khemraj Ramjattan on the issue of the AFC’s support of the Sports and Arts Fund, I am happy to announce that the party has re-engaged me in advising where I can and I am qualified to do so.
Now, with regard to a related issue, in the wake of my criticisms and interrogation of Dr Frank Anthony’s mismanagement of governmental cultural affairs, the charge has been repeatedly levelled privately – never publicly where it can be challenged – that I have “attacked” Ashley Anthony, the Minister’s daughter, over the publication of her book by the Caribbean Press.
Indeed, during a workshop held by UK-based Peepal Tree Press at Moray House on Wednesday last, in speaking about the challenges facing local writers, I cited the example of the Minister of Culture using the state-owned Caribbean Press to publish his daughter’s work, as a challenge in establishing the sort of fair and competitive system that Peepal Tree founder Jeremy Poynting recommended for the development of writing. In response, Ms Vanda Radzik repeated the charge that I was insulting Ms Anthony, one I had to challenge and correct by pointing out that in not a single letter did I say anything about the young girl directly.
I’ve had two key experiences in working with young people involved in creative writing. The first was the GEMS Theatre workshop in 2007 where I was scriptwriting teacher for a group of children ranging in age from about 7 to 17 who developed from scratch stories some of which, over the course of a few weeks, became plays which were produced, one eventually being turned into a short film.
The second was a one-day clinic, not workshop proper, facilitated by myself, Elly Niland and her son, hosted ironically enough, under the aegis of the Caribbean Press. In my recommendations to coordinator, Petamber Persaud, I suggested that such a clinic was inadequate to develop some of the excellent story ideas that were put forward during the workshop. A Stabroek News article, published a few months before the workshop was held, noted:
“Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, during his presentation on the 2010 Budget, said that a special essay competition would be held in schools during the academic year and the 30 best essayists would be chosen to attend a workshop in August with Professor Dabydeen.
Dr Anthony explained that during the workshop, these young writers would develop creative pieces which they would perform in December at the Festival of Words in honour of National Poet, Martin Carter. These creative pieces would also be published the Minister said.”
No such competition has ever been held, neither such festival, and no such publication has been undertaken by the Press. However, the one young writer who has had her work published by the Caribbean Press is the Minister’s daughter, and that is what is glaring and worthy of comment. If I am wrong, the people associated with the Press are free to publicly correct me, instead of whispering, behind closed doors, facile interpretations of my asking for fairness and transparency.
As I’ve had to say to people privately, this embarrassment could have been avoided had Dr Anthony had a genuine interest in the development of writing in Guyana and the writing of children in particular. Early last year, Ashley Anthony, introduced by Ms Radzik at a Moray House function, read a well-received piece of work, as was that other children present, after which Ms Radzik announced the young girl’s intention to be a writer.
I ran into the Minister the next day, along with his wife who I have tremendous respect for, and offered, in light of his daughter’s desire for a literary career, to work together to get some initiatives off the ground to benefit young writers. His response to me was simple, and direct, “I have nothing to say to you.” I asked him if he was sure, and he replied in the affirmative.
I’ll close off by stating that Ms Anthony was simply the apparent beneficiary of a crude and thoughtless act that really benefited the person instigating it more than anyone else. Any young person who shows the commitment that she has in finishing a book at such a young age should have been exposed to the best possible developmental environment, wherein her craft could be cultivated in the sort of dynamic that existed, for example, during the GEMS Theatre workshop, honed by the critique of her peers under some sort of expert guidance.
I’ve made the case that other young citizens were not afforded the best the country could have offered with regard to the Caribbean Press, but, to be clear, neither was Ashley Anthony.
Yours faithfully,
Ruel Johnson
