Dear Editor,
Some years ago, a popular item in the media was called ‘Believe It or Not,’ by Ripley. Two days ago, I learnt about the massive and unconscionable increases for the use of our National Cultural Centre. To the best of my knowledge, there was no consultation, which means the increases are arbitrary.
Further, only the Minister can now grant permission for the use of the NCC similar to where the Minister of Foreign Affairs is the only one to grant permission for the use of the VIP Lounge at our airports. What madness, what arrogance has descended upon the people of Guyana at this time? Instead of stultifying, we should be encouraging the creative skills of our local artistes, producers and writers. One would have expected that with this in flow of massive sums from oil, gas, gold, etc., a truly concerned government would have reduced the present cost to put on shows at the NCC as an incentive, as an encouragement to help release the creative energies of our people.
Dear Editor, forgive me, but this matter is extremely painful since I was in the frontline when the raison d’etre for the Cultural Centre was conceived. It was to provide an auditorium to showcase and harmonize the cultural expressions of our six peoples. Beyond that, the building was used to stage performances for CARIFESTA 72, even before the building which we now see was completed. We used bamboo and thatched roofs then. CARIFESTA 72 brought together writers, poets, dancers, musicians, et al, from every country in the region and beyond.
Is it, Editor, that at the helm of the ship in Guyana, we now have a group of cultural barbarians? I hope that the independent media, people in the cultural arena, so important for development and true patriots will stand up and resist this assault on an important aspect of National development. To God Be the Glory of our artiste.
Sincerely,
Hamilton Green
Elder