Dear Editor,
Dr Dabydeen’s response to both myself and Ruel Johnson’s enquiries into the operational construct of the Caribbean Press are but skirmishes and façades amidst loud, meaningless proclamations.
It is obvious that Dr Dabydeen has no awareness or concern for who is doing what as writers in this country; he merely concocts a superficial list of names to fill the void when necessary.
When all is said and done, David Dabydeen will be remembered as the man who had written ‘something’ that distorted the public funded Caribbean Press.
I need not introduce myself to Dabydeen; it’s irrelevant, except to say that had I now written my first poetic verse, or the thousand words of my first short story, then I would be entitled to demand accountability from the Caribbean Press.
But something is wrong here; I should not be indulging David Dabydeen. Dr Frank Anthony is the Minister of Culture; Dr James Rose is the Director of Culture. These are the men who are politically responsible for the entity that is the Caribbean Press. These are the sources who must be held accountable for explanations.
Clarifications, public disclosures and the reconstruction of the Press as a service to nurture and give relevance and inspiration to unpublished talents, all this and more must be demanded of a public entity. I meet young writers all the time, including struggling poets.
No longer as before do newspapers carry local short stories; such competitions are a thing of the past. From as long ago as the last fifteen to twenty years, a generation has been left out in the creative ‘Why do it?’
This has become a matter to be addressed in Parliament. Through the pages of the print media we now have an understanding of the travesty, the abuse of a public niche institution and the twilight of Dr Dabydeen, and the mystery must be concluded.
The public office and accommodating reception of the Caribbean Press must morph into a public atmosphere of accountability.
Yours faithfully,
Barrington Braithwaite
