Drama director, ministry at odds over NCC finances

Godfrey Naughton

The Director of the National Drama Festival (NDF) and the Ministry of Culture are at odds over the National Cultural Centre (NCC), with the latter saying the facility is not earning enough to stay afloat and the former refuting this.

NDF Director Godfrey Naughton also questioned the wisdom in purchasing new sound systems for the NCC when the ministry has two new systems locked away in a room at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, which are not being utilized.  However, speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the ministry Alfred King said that the systems stored at the National Stadium belonged to ministry and were not to be used at the NCC. “I would not contest with Naughton but the ministry has procured services to immediately fix what is damaged,” said King, referring to the NCC. He added that the ministry was aware of equipment that needed to be fixed and/or replaced.

But Naughton said he was puzzled as to why the ministry would want to buy new systems. “Why do they have to