The National School of Music is being relocated from the Brickdam, Georgetown building where it is currently housed in order to accommodate the new Ministry of Labour.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr confirmed that the school was being temporarily moved to the Carifesta Sports Complex.
Ramson told this newspaper that the decision was not one that was taken lightly and should not be seen as the ministry abandoning the music school.
He explained that the decision was guided by the need to ensure the Ministry of Labour is adequately equipped to carry out its functions to the best of its ability. Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, he noted, visited the Department of Labour and found that the small amount of space being occupied could not facilitate the ministry.
Therefore, he said, a sufficient space was be required, hence the decision to use the school’s building on Brickdam. He also mentioned that with the President’s hope to prioritise labour, it was necessary that the ministry had a building with the needed capacity to facilitate its work. Ramson stated that the school would be relocated to the Carifesta Sports Complex until either it or the Labour Ministry finds a more suitable location.
“It is not a shutdown, it is just for the moment until we can adequately find a suitable location of even get another building or even if the Ministry of Labour decides to move to another location, we can get back the building,” he explained.
Ramson, however, noted that the recording studio that is housed at the Brickdam building will be left as is in order for persons to continue recording. And while he knows that persons have certain needs for their specific instruments, he assured that these will be met at the Sports Complex.
He also said that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport intended no disrespect to the music school with the decision and noted that he hopes to work towards seeing the musical arts become more recognised locally.
