This newspaper’s Letters to The Editor column continues to provide a stage for the public at large to have their voices heard. Whilst serving as a modified written equivalent of London’s Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner (of course, with respect to the boundaries extended by libel laws), it is much more than a forum for people to pen opinions on all manner of subjects.
Over the years, letter writers have debated or exchanged heated opinions on varying topics, scribes have criticised this publication’s editorials or perceived leanings, and the powers that be – moreso, when in the opposition ranks – have filled column inches with their disapproval of governmental decisions, and, or, subsequent actions. Other contributors have provided answers to questions of historical interest poised by enquiring minds of the younger generation, or supplied, hitherto unknown information on some obscure topic. Government departments, corporations and business owners have responded to writers and this publication, clarifying their side of things.
Future researchers and anthropologists combing through the online archives or perusing physical copies – if the National Archives is still an existing entity – will discover that the contents of the Letters to the Editor column are not just a mere bulletin board, where current problems or developments are questions, or deepest concerns are presented. It is the pulse of the nation, often capturing the prevailing mood of the said moment in time. Reading the varying viewpoints in the daily or Sunday editions one can often experience a wide gamut of emotions ranging from anger to disappointment to rage to despair to fear to humour (occasionally, at the sheer ridiculousness of the dire straits) to anxiety.
Casual perusal of the letters printed over the last couple of weeks will reveal the extent of the range of matters addressed. Here is a minuscule sample; the imbroglio surrounding the investigation and legal saga of a current Assistant Police Commissioner of Police, the perennial flogging of two favourite national institutions, namely the GPL and the NIS, another weekly complaint on the unabated noise nuisance at Leonora, the distribution of the promised $100,000 cash grant, a plea for Stabroek News to fact check seemingly wild assertions emanating the President and the DPI, an open invitation extended to government and GWI officials from a Guyanese migrant now resident in Florida to a free tour of a water/waste water treatment plant, the vehicular carnage on our roads, examinations of the Israeli/Hamas conflict, the questioning of food inflation figures produced by the Bank of Guyana, and the inevitable plea for Constitution reform.
In the month of October, there have been three (at the time of writing) letters to the Editor from Mr Stanley Greaves, who is the de facto doyen of our arts world. These letters, although specifically focusing on the arts, serve several ends. In the first letter, published on Sunday 6th October, in a lengthy discourse, Mr Greaves explained why he would not be holding an exhibition in November to commemorate his ninetieth birthday. While lamenting the reason for his decision, Mr Greaves gives a brief history lesson on the functioning of Castellani House, home of the National Art Collection, and an insight to the current method of operations. Apparently, now, against “the established protocol the world over” the final approval for exhibitions no longer rests with the gallery’s curator, but rather with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr Charles Ramson Jr.
The renowned artist held no punches while explaining his position. “My decision is not to have a show, by refusing to endorse Ramson’s dictatorial removal of Ohene’s [Koama] official position as Curator of exhibitions, along with his recent abusive behaviour towards [Ian] Thom, the Head of the Burrowes School of Art.” He further noted that the minister, with no background in art, in usurping the role of the Curator was “only seeing his position as opportunity for a misuse of power, revealing a show of ignorance and arrogance by dictating there would be neither catalogue nor refreshments at openings.” In conclusion, the artist called for the reinstatement of Mr Koama as Curator of Exhibitions and the resuscitation of the Castellani House Committee.
A week later, Mr Greaves’ second letter appeared under the caption “Castellani House Committee has to be reestablished to assure visual artists their interests are being properly looked after” related a telephone conversation with Tamika Boatswain, the Acting Director of Culture, who informed him that the minister had granted permission for his exhibition. The artist reiterated that he was maintaining his protest stance. Mr Greaves then proceeded to tackle the Director of Culture’s response regarding the dismissal of the Castellani House Committee (CHC), in which she stated that “there is no legal basis for a board to be instituted. The presence of the board is based solely on the decision of the Minister.”
Mr Greaves duly noted, “It is true that no law exists and none either to state that it should not. To state that no law exists is no reason for ignoring the reason and importance for the existence of committees.” He added that the CHC meetings not only provided the opportunity for examining the Curator’s plans and proposals, but to offer suggestions or alternatives which would ensure the success of not only solo and group exhibitions, but also, most importantly, the preservation of the National Collection. Mr Greaves returned to the fray last Sunday making the case for the establishment of a Ministry of Creative Arts. While touching, albeit briefly on the subject of culture, the artist sketched a brief history of the local arts scene prior and post independence, before departing with his trademark, “I gone.”
Mr Greaves’ Letters to the Editor paint a disturbing portrait of the continued unraveling of our society. They note the failure of the relevant authorities to encourage and promote a flourishing arts scene whilst seeking to exert control over all activities. While the authorities continue to ignore the importance of the National Archives, the Letters to the Editor column picks up the slack of recording our history and taking our pulse.