Expect Copyright Legislation in two months

Apr 25, 2016 News

– Cultural Policy Advisor

Back in November 2015, Government, through the Ministry of Education, had launched a national consultation process on cultural policy development. Creative minds leaving Guyana due to the lack of relevant cultural policy has been a problem for years, hence, the initiative was seen as a welcome step by many.
The initiative was spearheaded by Cultural Policy Advisor, Ruel Johnson, a writer and culture advocate who shot to fame in 2002 as the youngest person, at the time, to win the Guyana Prize for Literature for Best First Fiction Manuscript.
Working alongside Johnson in an effort to execute the project were Production Manager Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, Fashion Designer Sonia Noel, Anthropologist Luisa Daggers and Filmmaker Kojo McPherson.
Kaieteur News recently caught up with Johnson. According to him, the policy being developed will include creating an enabling environment for the arts and culture to develop in Guyana. One aspect includes copyright legislation.
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo had stated early in his presidency that this legislation was a critical component for development of the country. However, nothing was ever done with regards to the implementation of copyright laws during his time.
Musicians and writers alike have long lamented the absence of an updated copyright law, something that has impacted them economically. However, the subject Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine had promised that modern intellectual property legislation would be passed within a year.
Johnson stated that this legislation will likely be tabled within two months. He spoke of the importance of creative industries and the fact that Guyana has the talent and the landscape for a booming arts industry, but no legislation.
“One of the things Dr. Roopnaraine said in his parliamentary speech is that he does not see why it cannot be laid within a year. And we are approaching that year, July-August. I am adamant about having draft legislation tabled within the next two months.”
Giving an example of what developing the arts could mean for Guyana, Johnson referenced a Spanish town, which had fallen on hard times. But it had beautiful scenery and so a movie production company came to film a movie there. The town’s fortunes immediately reversed.

Cultural Policy Advisor, Ruel Johnson (2nd from left) during a meeting between delegates and Ministers of Culture, last year in Montevideo, Uruguay.

“You have to feed the actors. You have to house them, clothe them and provide services. All of that was income. And more often than not, the production company has to pay taxes. Films have always boosted tourism. You have an international film industry that is always seeking exotic locations.”
“So for Guyana, we have an amazing landscape. But we don’t have the legislation, which is a fundamental thing. But one of the things I am adamant about is to have draft legislation tabled within the next two months.”
“However, there has been a lot of focus on the 50th anniversary and a lot of what we wanted to get done, in terms of policy, was diverted. But I am still holding consultations and there is still strategic representation internationally.”
He added that a strong regional network that would help in advancing cultural policy has also been built. Some examples he gave were the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and individual Ministers of Culture in Regional member states.
“We have gone further in the past year than in the previous ten in highlighting what needs to be done and framework on how to get there.” he said. “So in this sense, we are ahead of the curb.”
“Very soon there will be a Council on Social Development of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) meeting that will focus exclusively on culture. By the time that happens Guyana should be ahead of most in a comprehensive national cultural policy.”

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