Dear Editor,
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh noted that some $2.7 Billion has been budgeted to promote Guyana’s Culture and Arts. According to Dr. Singh the Culture, Sport and Art sector is currently undergoing “the sharpest and greatest transformation recorded in the country’s history”.
What transformation is Dr. Singh speaking of? Transformation is defined as a complete change in appearance or character of something or someone especially so that that thing or person is improved. During the PPP’s four years in government there have been four mammoth- size budgets. The Culture Ministry has received in excess of $6 billion for Culture and Arts. For three years the Ministry has given out a Culture and Business Award, one million dollars each was handed out to its loyalists. Senior Guyanese artists who have served our country for decades received nothing. Ruining the lives of artists, suffering our families, while Dr Singh speaks of the great transformation of course that has taken place in the life of the PPP from rags to billionaires.
Recently internationally acclaimed Guyanese artist Stanley Greaves in a letter to the Sunday Stabroek titled `I will not have a 90th birthday exhibition as I will not endorse Ramson’s dictatorial behaviour’ exposed what has been happening at the National Gallery, Castellani House since the new Minister took over the Culture Ministry. An entire generation of young Guyanese artists have been deprived of the inspiring work of Stanley Greaves which covers over six decades.
I have said before that the PPP intends to abort the creativity of the younger generation of Guyanese artists. Guyanese artists have gained recognition among the world’s greatest artists, as painters and sculptors. Art is the very essence of our Nation. It is the hope that resides in our people as a nation, that will continue to haunt the PPP which is using our wealth as a weapon to divide our nation.
In conclusion, belated birthday blessings to Stanley Greaves, his 90th birthday exhibition and a new Gallery to safeguard our National Collection will still happen.
Yours faithfully,
Desmond Alli
