Dear Editor,
I promised myself that I would not write this letter nor make any public disclosure concerning my previously proposed involvement in Carifesta X. However, I felt encouraged to do so after reading a letter by Mr Harold Bascom.
I have been and will always be an unswerving patriot but unfortunately, some Guyanese at home do not know how to receive and treat patriotism.
In early March 2008, I met with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and volunteered my interest in participating in Carifesta X. The Prime Minister then arranged a meeting with Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony which I attended. I will not disclose all the details of our meeting lest I step on the toes of my colleagues, save and except to say that the Minister proffered that he was happy at the indication of my willingness to participate.
We then ventilated the possibilities. The Minister asked me what I had in mind. I offered that I had two ideas I would like to see come to fruition. I wanted to mount a performance of Guyanese folk songs using students from a cross-section of city schools, or I would return to Queen’s College and use their students to stage the performance.
Also, I wanted to stage a performance of compositions for various media by Guyanese musicians. I suggested a collaborative performance with myself and other notable Guyanese musicians. Minister Anthony was excited at these ideas and even asked if I would be willing to do a presentation on Guyanese music at the symposium, to which I answered in the affirmative. He asked me to let him know what were the modalities of my engagement. We exchanged contact information and I left.
I later sent him an email telling him what I wanted, which in my humble estimation was reasonable and within reach. I asked to be flown in, to be paid a small stipend, accommodation during the activities and transportation.
The Minister told me that Ms Mohammed would contact me about my terms and conditions. I waited but got no communication from her. Ms Madhoo sent me an email intimating to me that she heard the Minister planned to have me participate and she expressed her happiness at this.
At our meeting the Minister asked when I could be in Guyana. I explained that I was graduating with a Masters in Music this May, but I may not remain for commencement on May 18. Thus, I could be home by mid-May. He was happy with this. I reminded him that I needed to be flown in and that I needed to know early of his intentions since I needed to make definite plans for my summer activities soon. He promised to do so. I waited and waited.
While waiting I was talking with a colleague who informed me that the Minister and Ms Mohammed told them I was “in charge” of the musical/folk presentation. I was astonished that they would make a public announcement before we had arrived at anything definite, to say the least. I had not heard from him since March and we were well into April and nearing the month’s end with less than three weeks to my proposed arrival.
I called Marilyn Dewar to find out if what I was told by my other colleague was true. She affirmed it and encouraged me to contact Ms Mohammed to “clear my name” as if I was a deserter. She explained that Ms Mohammed was under the impression that I had agreed to attend unconditionally. Well, I thought I should not contact them since they were to contact me and I thought my not hearing from them for a long time meant that they had decided not to use me.
In the final analysis, they are using one of my ideas. I honestly do hope they succeed because I would want Guyana to do well. The other matter is the lack of respect for the contribution of others. After all, I offered my services and if they were not welcome, I thought that at least it would have been communicated to me rather than have me left holding. Also, I cannot understand the announcement of my participation without any definite communication from me. Had they expected me to come I would expect them to send me at least a ticket. Now G$500M spent on Carifesta X and they cannot send me a ticket? Am I just supposed to show up? Oh please!
Yours faithfully,
Paul Cort
