Guyanese sculptor and former administrator of the E R Burrowes School of Art Ian Ivor Thom has been contacted by the government and asked to resume his duties following his resignation earlier this month.
Stabroek News understands that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo contacted Thom and asked him to resume his duties as administrator after his resignation that was triggered by an altercation followed by a meeting at the office of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Charles Ramson. According to reports, Thom had said that he felt disrespected and subsequently resigned.
Contacted, Thom told Stabroek News on Sunday that while he was asked to return to the job, he was mulling that decision. He further stated that his family would be consulted first and further that any decision would be made in favour of his students.
In an interview with this newspaper, Thom related that on September 7, he was verbally abused 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 said, there was a red SUV parked in a manner that made it difficult for him to exit without risking a collision. Thom said he approached the driver of the SUV and informed him that the parking lot was reserved for students and staff of the school. He said the SUV driver became enraged and hurled racial slurs at him.
Shortly afterwards, Thom said, he received a call from the Director of Culture, who informed him that the minister wished to speak with him. On his way to the ministry, he said, he received another call from the Permanent Secretary, urging him to come in. Thom said he was already at the building and thus informed the Permanent Secretary.
He added that he was then directed to a boardroom where he was left waiting for 45 minutes. When the meeting finally began, Thom said, he 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, and tendered his resignation.
Since then, Thom revealed, 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.
Ramson, a source explained, made clear that the person who had abused Thom in the parking lot was in no way connected to the PPP/C or the government. He, however, directed that incident regarding ancillary matters such as parking, be left to the staff that handles that.
Meanwhile, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Amanza Walton Desir, in a live Facebook post yesterday stated that Ramson should resign from his post as minister in view of the incident with Thom.
“For Jagdeo to reverse Mr Thom’s constructive dismissal is not sufficient. Charles Ramson must resign. He continues to attack Afro-Guyanese and he cannot lead any culture ministry. I am saying to Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo that if you are serious about practicing what you preach, Charles Ramson must resign,” the MP stated.
