Dear Editor,
After the publication of my letter in the Sunday Stabroek on October 6th I received a phone call from Tamika Boatswain, the Acting Director of Culture, to the effect that Ramson was giving permission for me to have my exhibition. I told her my decision stands. What surprised me was that Koama, the Curator of the National Collection was party to the call. Equally surprising was that our conversation was interrupted by a call from Ramson to find out if his message had been delivered. The wording of my letter was plain and unequivocal. There is no room for “I thought you meant”. Strange that as a lawyer he could not see that there was no space for reading between the lines. All he did in attempting to save face was to give himself the opportunity to be rejected twice.
In a subsequent response to the press, regarding the dismissal of the Castellani House Committee (CHC) Boatswain, stated that “there is no legal basis for a board to be instituted. The presence of a board is based solely on the decision of the Minister.” It is true that no law exists and none either to state that it should not. To state no law exists is no reason for ignoring the reason and importance for the existence of committees. At (CHC) meetings the opportunity is provided for examining plans and proposals by Curator Koama and to offer suggestions or alternatives that would ensure the success not only of solo and group exhibitions but also the preservation of the National Collection. This is the cogent reason for the existence of the committee. Its dismissal was to allow an uninformed Ramson to have a show of power and remove the authority of Curator Koama and the CHC. It means that Koama is deprived of relevant useful advice, suggestions and support from the CHC Committee.
Boatswain in her call to Stabroek News, had Koama in attendance. I fail to see the necessity for his presence during both phone calls. I suppose it was to support her statement that Curator Koama is present when Ramson makes decisions. During phone calls instigated by Ramson is a bit much. Whether or not he is in attendance in any form means that Curator Koama has to curate Ramson which allows him to misuse his power as Minister. Koama is now in the untenable position of a one-man committee. Koama and the CHC are a team which has served honourably all Ministers of Culture for decades providing assurance to artists that their work is being properly assessed not just by one person. That is until the arrival of Ramson the pseudo curator with no proof of knowledge to critique Art hence needing Koama to be in attendance. Koama and the CHC team has to be reestablished to provide evidence to the community of visual artists that their interests are being properly looked after. There is absolutely no way that Ramson will show the courage and sensibility to do this as evidenced in failing to offer an apology to Ivor Thom the Head of the Burrowes School of Art.
Obviously Ramson has no idea of the function of a board, which I doubt but ignores it for reasons that allow him to behave the way he does. Boatswain also stated that “We have not turned down any artist who has applied using this process.’” This is a flawed process that allows anyone applying paint on canvas to exhibit, no proper assessment being made about quality. Serious artists must be concerned about this. Castellani is not an open marketplace (apologies to historic Stabroek and Bourda whose aisles I roamed). Coming back to applications, why did Ramson at the beginning of his “reign” not agree to meet Desmond Alli, the leader of the long established Main Street Group of Artists. Alli is an accomplished sculptor and painter of many years standing. What was the basis of Ramson’s decision? This is a rhetorical question. The answer is obvious. I reiterate that Ramson’s priority should be the creation of a fireproof building to house the invaluable National Collection. Finally, for my remarks, I must apologise to Boatswain the Acting Director of Culture who is in the unenviable situation as spokesperson for Ramson and also to Koama being in a similar supportive situation. I gone.
Stanley Greaves
