Latest update December 25th, 2024 12:12 AM
GYSM rejects President’s call to UN for review of copyright laws
Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), has rejected President Donald Ramotar’s plea for the United Nations (UN) to relax international copyright laws pertaining to educational materials yesterday, calling the move “disturbing and unwise.”
According to GYSM, the youth arm of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the stealing of intellectual properties is in direct violation of the law and an infringement on the rights of authors and publishers.
GYSM indicated that the illegal act condoned by the current administration is stifling and undermining the growth of local intellectual and artistic persons.
GYSM’s James Bond
These statements were made on Tuesday when GYSM held a press briefing at its Sophia headquarters.
According to Parliamentarian, James Bond, “Local talents are not motivated to produce and be creative knowing that no copyright laws exist in Guyana to protect the work of persons who may seek a livelihood off of their talent.”
Bond said writers do not have the protection needed for them to create and are further stifled by not having the means to publish and sell their work. “There is nothing in place to prevent the Government or any ordinary person from stealing one’s work, photocopying it and selling it.”
Bond argued that, “Persons are allowed to make money off another’s talent, while the creator cannot enjoy the fruits of their labour, thus placing poets, writers and songwriters amongst the poorest people in the country since they get no reward for their talents.”
Bond said the current situation sends a bad message to upcoming youths… that the Government does not care, and sets back any progress of improvement since persons will be discouraged from producing intellectual and artistic materials.
He said that it is unimaginable that the President would now go to the UN and ask to be “excused” to break the law, when opportunities had presented itself for the Government to have permission to use text books with consent of publishers and authors.
Bond said that the move to the UN is testament of the culture of abuse which exists in Guyana, where no rights and privileges are accorded to talents in Guyana.
Bond concluded that enough is not being done in Guyana to promote the talented citizens. He said he personally knows that persons had engaged the Government on the issue of copyright laws. He said that the problem is known to the Heads of State, but the political will to fix the problem is lacking.
“There must be a revisiting of the copyright law in Guyana along with adequate funding designated for the development of talented citizens as to produce our own works.”
Events such as the “Drama Festival” are commendable but inadequate since there is nothing left to look forward to. The APNU member said that the way must be paved for upcoming talents and investments must be made.
Earlier this week, President Ramotar while in the United States addressed members of the UN, and asked the organization to review international copyright laws to encompass developing nations such as Guyana, saying that Third World countries cannot afford the original texts.
The President’s plea came shortly after a UK based body representing publishers and writers filed an injunction in the Supreme Court ceasing the publication of “pirated” school books in Guyana.
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