Dear Editor,
In two recent front-page stories in the local press, it was interesting to read of the sterling efforts being made by government to ensure the continuance of “business” for our music cart vendors. However, while the individuals engaged in selling those CDs must be heartened by this attention it raises a parallel question.
Where is the similar concern for the continuance of the “business” of the musicians here who have produced many of the CDs being sold? The point raised by a Minister of the government – that the selling of pirated CDs is an illegal practice ‒ continues to be completely ignored by the establishment. Guyana’s blind eye and deaf ear being turned to the problem of blatant and continuous violation of internationally accepted copyright laws is a travesty that should have been corrected years ago. Until that happens, our music industry here will remain in the doldrums. I have personal experience of music producers and suppliers in international music markets who are (a) incredulous at the absence of standard intellectual property regulation here and (b) consequently disinterested in doing business with us.
The lapse is beyond travesty; it is an unlawful practice operating daily in public view. I know I represent the anguish of many musicians, song-writers and music producers in this country who labour long and spend much to generate a product for the marketplace, only to face this ongoing disinterest, bordering on disdain, by this and previous governments, as their work is pirated and sold openly.
The essential irony here is the concern for the vendors who are distributing these products illegally while the creators of the products remain invisible and ignored. Plainly put, it is a case of a pilfered product being sold with the creator of the product having no recourse in the law to prevent the theft. Business protection should cut both ways: as it exists for the citizens selling a product it should also be in place for the citizens who created the product.
Yours faithfully,
Dave Martins
