Dear Editor,
From 1984 to now, 2024, I have been involved with the Visual Arts as practitioner and teacher. Never have I read about or experienced a Minister wasting time on a matter that should have been referred to the police. Ivor Thom in 1975 served during the early years of National Service, was one of the first students at the Burrowes School of Art, studied metal casting at the Cuban School of Art on a scholarship, created the friezes at Burnham’s Mausoleum, monument to Quamina in Essequibo, the commemorative figurative group of Africans at the Sea Wall, taught at the Burrowes School then becoming the Head and supervising its development for decades. By comparison Ramson, the Minister of Culture has neither background nor training in the field of culture.
Shouting at Thom and refusing to listen to his explanation of what took place is reprehensible and insulting as regards what took place on Governmental private school grounds Thom was trying to protect. Ramson should therefore have been supportive. Having him wait for 45 minutes in a show of power is symptomatic of crass schoolyard bully behaviour. Ramson displayed an attitude that was reprehensible, disrespectful, uncouth and bullying, a disastrous lack of “culture” for a Minister of Culture towards Thom who has more years of dedicated positive service to the Nation than he has. I have known Ministers of Culture and Directors of Culture from the time the post was created and none has ever behaved in this manner to those who serve the nation. Thom was quite right to submit his resignation seeing that this was the third time he was treated in such a disgraceful manner.
Vice President Jagdeo has since asked Thom to resume duties by showing his disapproval of Ramson’s disgraceful behaviour which is an embarrassment to his Government. Thom is quite right to seriously consider returning and really should also demand an apology from Ramson before doing so. In addition he should refuse to meet Ramson for any reason unless accompanied by a witness. As has been suggested Ramson should indeed resign having the potential to further embarrass the Government. This of course being who he is will not do. Instead of his seemingly continuous insultive manner he should like his predecessor be involved in more serious matters like using now available “oil money” towards the creation of a Creative Arts Centre for Music, Dance and Theatre and a secure fireproof Gallery for the National Collection, a project I was asked to be involved with and still have the suggestions.
There is an issue I have to take up with Ramson if he is still in office, but Thom’s affair took precedence.
Yours faithfully,
Stanley Greaves
