Dear Editor,
I read with interest a great number of letters written by Mr Ruel Johnson pertaining to his criticism of The Caribbean Press and the mismanagement of this obscure Press.
I vaguely learned about this press when Mr Petamber Persaud asked me to submit some poetry to him for evaluation to be published among some other contemporary writers in a `Contemporary Poetry Anthology’. Not very long after I had submitted my work I was invited by Mr Persaud to attend a writer’s meeting at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
At that writer’s conference Dr Frank Anthony, Dr Dabydeen, Petamber Persaud, Ruel Johnson, myself and a host of prominent Guyanese writers discussed several issues that have affected Guyanese writers. We were meeting there actually every month until they decided to keep the meetings on Sundays which made it impossible for me to attend.
A few months ago, I was asked by Petamber to submit to him a brief biography for the Anthology but he did not mention how many of my poems were accepted for publication. To date, I’ve heard nothing from him or the editor of the Anthology, Dr Dabydeen. After reading lots of heated debates about this Caribbean Press by the erudite Johnson, I learned a lot from his letters and a few replies; I am shocked to read that people like Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Mr Al Creighton barely knew of this press and its location.
Editor if our Government is responsible for this Caribbean Press or Guyanese Publishing House, why is it this Press is not listed in our Phone Directory or the media and other journals or even at the National Library and the University of Guyana? Where is this press located in Guyana?
Who is the publisher and editorial board? What’s the Press’s mailing address and phone numbers including email addresses?
I ask these questions because I am a published poet and fiction writer at home and abroad. My work has been published by Poui Literary Journal by the University of the West Indies; several journals in the US, England and the Wider Caribbean. I have a publication of a collection of 300 poems in my recent book `The Revelation of Love’ and have several more books to publish in poetry and fiction.
If this Caribbean Press is in my country, I would be happy to re-publish my books and have many more unpublished books I wish to publish. In a reply to Mr Johnson by Dr Dabydeen I learned from his letter published in (SN 21/05/2013) that ‘Most of the poetry sent to the Caribbean Press by Guyanese Writers is doggerel’.
I found the caption of this letter very facetious yet very serious and Dr Dabydeen offered his email address for ‘’Submissions’’. I sent him a submission but he hasn’t replied to me as yet. What amuses me about Dr Dabydeen’s reply to Johnson was the terms he used ‘’doggerel and puppyrel’’ Since Dr Dabydeen seemed to be a very learned man which he assumes, I guess he can use terms at his whims and pleasure to define living Guyanese writers.
I think maybe some of the submissions he has read may not be up to his literary expectations but at least he should have written to the writers his evaluation of their work in a very mild and decent manner to encourage them how to hone their craft in writing properly. I have been a judge for the Guyana Annual for several years and I read some really great poetry, short stories and novella by many promising young Guyanese writers who I met and called to encourage their writings. Dr Dabydeen should realize by now that not every Guyanese writer will write like Wilson Harris dabbling in Metaphysics and Quantum Physics to confuse the average reader and even themselves.
Every writer will have to develop their own style and craft in writing as they write and write and never stop. I believe we have some of the greatest writers still living and writing in Guyana but the Caribbean Press will have to be administrated by competent as well as open minded editors to hone, encourage and bring out the best in these writers’ works by careful scrutiny and editing of their works.
The Hon Minister Dr Frank Anthony is asking for help with the Caribbean Press; until now he hasn’t mentioned where this press is located, he hasn’t posted a job vacancy; Dr Dabydeen is asking to be replaced to concentrate on his own writings, I think Mr Ruel Johnson is by far more qualified to help administrate this Press among many of our literary contemporaries.
The big question is many of these financially secured bureaucrats are not willing to pay writers for their services to run this press so they have just one man as the (unpaid editor).
This press needs a competent body of people to govern it before it becomes a next Caribbean White Elephant. Dr Dabydeen as well as Minister Anthony said they are reprinting the works of dead Guyanese writers, the classics; while our living writers suffer for publication and proper literary exposure. If this Press was offered 100 million dollars by the former Jagdeo regime then in all fairness our living Guyanese writers should be the first to benefit from this press for our writers to compete for the Commonwealth Prize, the Bocas Literary Award among other prizes.
All these debates alone won’t help unless we go back to the table in a meeting with the Minister, Dr Dabydeen to work together as a team to help our young Guyanese writers. I am willing to offer my literary skills and services. I can be contacted at 220-7008.
Yours faithfully,
Rev. Gideon Cecil
