Artist advises the Government to manage not rule Guyana

Nov 05, 2015 Letters

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Dear Editor,
When the controversy about the sudden 50% raise for the higher echelons of the administration unfolded I wanted to see it in black and white and i did with calculator in hand. I realised that for annual wages of $ 9.000.000 a year, it worked out to about $750.000  a month, plus allowances.
An executive could be comfortable with that, though it’s not a salary of tremendous proportions. My contention is that I have had to debate for a reasonable wage in my field. Artists are perceived to be cheap.
As an Illustrator and writer I can remember an engagement with an International body here, who refused to pay me for scripting and illustrating a graphic magazine until she contacted my peers in Peru and Brazil and realized that I was truthful alleging that I charged 1/5 of international rates.
Our Intellectual property is taken for so granted. One aspiring ethnically driven politician in 1990 lifted the logo of the Jaguar from my Comix and I had to take him to court, Nigel Hughes championed my case pro bono.  I’m careful to throw stones on special service worth.
I can remember the PPP’s Minister Frank Anthony telling me at an exhibition that I wanted to be too well paid for my work; why not I had replied?  I was not surprised at the Cabinet- Parliamentary raise of pay.  But It should have come a little later, I usually cut out some articles and letters as reference material, one such was a letter on August 15, 2015, Stabroek News by E. B. John.
I have a collection of his, because he always presents Tables- Charts to support his topics. This topic was “There is disparity in the salaries of parliamentarians” read it and you’ll understand.  The problem in this case comes with campaign statements competing against the reality of the times.
Now comparative raises have to also come for John Public.  Ministers have to earn that money, in our interest. So far I can point to a few, who are, to fill the policy vacuum with the reasonable opportunities long marginalised.
That this was not a secret decision is somewhat commendable. It came from ‘the horse’s mouth’ speaking of that mouth; the essence of the public rage, that is, lies with the arrogance, convoluted, pompous logic and disrespectful tone of the messenger. For all of us over the past twenty years, outside of drugs, smuggling, back track, money laundering, were luckily and legitimately placed in the legal businesses of mining, then you could breathe much better.  Others prospered and survived as part of or were linked as thugs and minions of convenience to the cartels within the  PPP Government,  that shifted hundreds of millions of our money into their own pockets, or were of that special few, void of ideals, shame or morals, the deal makers that sell themselves to prosper regardless.  The rest of us were catching! Surviving, either on old money, remittances or selling narcotics to our neighbours.  There were the ‘Poor Rich’ which means honestly enduring, but stressed- barely paying one’s monthly debts, always late.  Then, those who struggled openly against the PPP felt it worse. Thus, we have a right to feel entitled to our opinions and respect. The paradox rests with the Opposition PPP who paid some of their members and cronies unjustifiably more than the sum total of the 50%, and of all people to have an opinion, Bharat Jagdeo.  Whose NIS-CLICO hustlers broke those institutions and under his watch allowed the creation of the crack addict nation and turned our value system upside down, a generation was criminalized.
In politics it is out of power engagement that inspires. I can point to President-David Granger, Nigel Hughes and his wife, Ministers Roopnarine, David Patterson , Ronald Bulkan, Volda Lawrence and my friend, the A.G  Basil Williams whose field work  in desperate times past, must be remembered, the AG, is out of the 50% contention, his position, the Chancellor and Prime Minister have had their scales fitted in sequence for over three decades, and as a lawyer I know he has earned it for services pro bono public. This cannot be disputed, when this country for over a decade was haunted by the PPP’s Phantoms and death squads, he was there, in court, at the extra-judicial funerals and vigils. It was he who took up Mark Benschop’s  case of vindictive incarceration, and championed the causes of  many young men Identified by the drug militias for arrest to the  “State-Cartel” controlled Police Force, when they ‘The Phantom’ could not murder them.  I am comfortable that the office of the AG is in Basil William’s range of responsibility.
The Ministers have to manage our interests, like the excellent drainage work, but it is necessary to place an oversight on the Republic of City Hall, in the Interest of our contracted young workers. I cannot help commenting on the statesmanship in handling our border dispute from our vulnerable position, it is superb, and all within five months.  APNU-AFC must however understand, you came through our ‘Will’ to replace a political cartel of questionable characters, and callous misfits, but you have also brought some.  Thus, be like the sleepless sentinel of the Rainbow Bridge, listen to our contentions, feel our apprehensions and manage; not rule.
I must say this as I conclude this letter. In Cultural Industries it is inspiring that for the first time in twenty five years we in the Arts are now been listened to, and accommodated to design policy in our interests, this will lead in the long term to job creation and the capacity for wealth building for the Arts-extended community.  No doubt Sports will soon require such a policy effort. That 50% has to translate into vigilance that listens to our ideas and concerns and work with us to regain too much lost time, lives lost and values buried in the abysmal shadow of Ali Baba and his legions of Ghouls.
Barrington Braithwaite

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