Dear Editor,
I am not aligned to a political party but I am a nationalist, and I express my opinions on matters which affect the masses. I am not a contributor who thumps his chest, regurgitating the same issue(s) in different words. SN’s caption ‘Education ministry invites bids for supply of pirated textbooks’ caught my attention. Based on the article, a Trinidad company may be challenging the tender process. The Trinidad company also submitted a bid. An interesting battle is in the making.
My thrust, however, is that because of the prohibitive cost of original texts carried by stores such as Austin’s, I was forced to get affordable copies available at various outlets for my children.
As far as I know, copyright laws have not been enacted in Guyana – and for good reason. [Ed note: The 1956 Copyright Act is still on the statute books] Does Mr Austin expect a parent from Crabwood Creek or Charity to come to Georgetown to buy from his limited inventory? Has any Stabroek News reporter attempted to do a comparison of prices between an original and re-printed book? I want to be even bolder and ask Mr Austin’s representatives from where their children get their textbooks?
Does Mr Austin want to admit that for some textbooks he says he carries, you have to put your name on a list, pay a down payment and get your books months later? These same books are readily available for half the price elsewhere. Where would you go?
Let us stop being proverbial ostriches. The children of this nation are being provided with free textbooks, people employed in printeries get employment, so it is a win-win situation for the majority; let the majority benefit!
Yours faithfully,
Godfrey Skeete
