THE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED

Oct 30, 2008 Peeping Tom

The only logical explanation I can find for some CARIFESTA workers still not receiving their monies is because someone wants them to come begging at his or her door.
It is a sad indictment of the way we treat our own people when these workers have to stand in line protesting with their pickets, their non-payment. This is not the way in which we should treat our cultural workers.
I do not wish to see them humiliate themselves further by having to go begging like the servants of yore who threw themselves at their masters’ feet, petitioning for the leftovers from the banquet.
And I certainly would hope that they will not have to go and beg anyone to intercede on their behalf.
As cultural artistes, I would expect them to not do this lest they lose face in the eyes of the respecting public.
I am calling on the Private Sector Commission of Guyana to invite these artistes to their office, find out how much they are owed, and pay these workers. I am calling on the private sector to do what the government has so far failed to do: pay these workers what they are owed.
Self respect is important; no more protesting, no more begging. These workers did Guyana proud; they stepped up and performed and they ought to have been paid.
The government ought to be ashamed of itself for not having paid these workers. It is downright disgraceful that these persons have to be protesting over non-payment. There can be no excuse for non-payment.
I know the private sector may question why it is that I am calling on them to foot a bill of which they had no part. The bill is not what is important.
What is important is to demonstrate to the government that if they, the government, do not have respect for these workers, then the rest of the country does.
The private sector can express their support for the contribution that these unpaid workers made to CARIFESTA by offering to pay them for their services.
I am sure that it will embarrass the government. But perhaps this is what the government needs to put some sense in their heads so that they can finally pay these workers.
I will not be surprised if the next time there is a big event in Guyana, our cultural artistes ask for their payment up front. I would not, given this experience, be opposed to this demand.
If in fact the government can pay to a supplier of pharmaceuticals for the public health system hundreds of millions of dollars up front, why it is they cannot afford to pay our cultural artistes in advance for their services?
The tragedy of this whole affair is that these workers have to wait for payment. Then when they receive their late-payment they will still have to pay taxes to the tax man.
The more I think about it, the more magnified becomes the injustice perpetuated against these workers.
I think they know one way in which they can be paid. I think they know that if they go on bended knees to certain places they will find a receptive ear and be promised payment which will materialize. I hope they do not succumb to this temptation.
They have a right to protest non-payment. They have a right to be angry. They have a right to be frustrated. What they do not have a right to do is to sell themselves short by going and beg anyone.
Once they do this, their self-worth will be diminished; the man or woman who loses his or her self worth often finds it difficult to regain the public’s respect.
I expected a renaissance in the arts in Guyana as a result of CARIFESTA. I have been sorely disappointed. I have been disappointed by the failure of our local artistes to build on the momentum created by CARIFESTA.
I have been disappointed by the paucity of productions since the end of August. Perhaps, CARIFESTA drained the energies of many of our producers and artistes who are taking a well earned siesta before returning back to the stage.
This is why it is important that those artistes who have not been paid be given their money. They should be dedicating their time and energies towards trying to build on the success of CARIFESTA rather than having to protest on our streets for payment.

Latest News

THE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport endorses Mashramani Street...

Guyanese boxers shine in IBA World Rankings ahead...

Motie returns for Day/Night affair, as fired-up...

Daniel Singh pockets East Bank Pool crown

Khalil, Pollard and Barker reign supreme as BCQS...

Cricket West Indies passes historic governance...

Features/Columnists

Guyana’s silence represents a shocking neglect of its national interest

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Corruption – at epidemic proportion

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

THE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]