Dear Editor,
Recently I was privileged to have the opportunity of listening to an outstanding singing voice, namely, that of John Braithwaite Critchlow, known around the world as Johnny Braff. I searched him out and found him not doing as well as he should have been. Perhaps it is because he resides in Guyana where talent in the arts is not considered worthy of praise, except for when it assists a popular cause.
The man has an outstanding singing voice. In his heyday Barbados afforded him a motorcade. The United States of America opened the gates of Madison Square Garden to him. And in Guyana very few are aware of him; they can pass him on the streets and not know him from Adam. Most youngsters who purchase music are second generation offspring, and therefore are familiar with the ‘now’ in music. Even when they hear the music of Johnny Braff they are not privy to the fact he is Guyanese. Why does the applause for greatness come too late, after the fact, in Guyana? Why does it not come while the talented personality is among us to appreciate that the work s/he presented has been favourably received?
Not too long ago a great upsurge of praise was contrived on the achievements of artist Philip Moore at his sad passing, so that supposedly supporting issues were misconceived. I persist in the view that any appreciation and recognition of Philip Moore should have been displayed while he was yet alive to appreciate it, and people would know about his hard work in developing his talents in the country where he was born and lived, especially given that he was aged and ailing.
Maybe if they had honoured him before he left us he could have corrected the misconception that was spreading about the land that he constructed the Cuffy Monument. He could have told them that all he did were the sketches and the maquete which is now in a collection somewhere in Guyana, and that the monument was constructed and cast abroad and shipped to Guyana. I contend that something like an archive should be maintained in the country, where proper mention of the achievements and personalities can be researched by anyone interested.
Come now Guyana, rattle those drums at a time your talented and celebrated people can hear them.
Yours faithfully,
Jorge Bowenforbes
