Guyanese sculptor and former administrator of the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, Ian Ivor Thom, has provided more details regarding the incident that led to his resignation earlier this month.
Speaking with the Sunday Stabroek yesterday, Thom recounted the events of September 7, when he was verbally assaulted with racial slurs by a member of the public, which he said contributed to his decision to step down from his post.
According to Thom, the confrontation occurred as he was preparing to leave the art school after completing work on a sculpture of former PPP/C Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, the late Dr Roger Luncheon. As he readied his car to depart, he noticed a red SUV parked in a manner that made it difficult for him to exit the parking space without risking a collision. Thom approached the driver of the SUV, informing him that the parking lot was reserved for students and staff of the school. This interaction, however, quickly escalated, with the SUV driver becoming enraged and hurling racial slurs at Thom.
Shortly after the altercation, Thom received a call from the Director of Culture, who informed him that Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports Charles Ramson wished to speak with him. On his way to the ministry, he received another call from the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, urging him to come in. Thom informed the senior civil servant that he was already at the building and about to enter.
Upon arrival at the ministry, Thom was directed to a boardroom where he was left waiting for 45 minutes. When the meeting finally began, Thom recounted the parking lot incident, to which, he claimed, the minister responded with hostility. According to Thom, Ramson told him he had no right to blow his horn at anyone or to dictate parking arrangements. The minister could not be reached yesterday for comment.
Thom said that this was not the first time he had faced such treatment from the minister, recalling two previous occasions where Ramson had shouted at him.
After reflecting on the situation, Thom said he concluded that he could no longer tolerate the disrespect and mistreatment, which ultimately led to his difficult decision to resign from his position
Following his resignation, Thom revealed that he has encountered further difficulties, including being barred from entering the school compound. He also stated that he had received calls questioning whether he had been entering the school at night, a claim which he firmly denied.
