Dear Editor,
Greetings, enclosed are some photos of the launching of the 26th Anniversary of the National Unity Monument on the Square of the Revolution on Thursday 4th March 2021. When I constructed the National Unity Monument, located on the Lawns of Castellani House, I was 42 years young; now I am 68 years and I have covered much ground over the past 26 years with the aid of the Press and TV, and groundings with my Guyanese compatriots in the major administrative centers of Guyana.
As an artist, I have come to realize how powerful the imagination amidst great wealth and abject poverty is. There is an even worse fate that has befallen our population and, that is, poverty of the imagination and this exists at the highest level of our society. That is why we remain stultified as a nation. There is no definitive pattern that would shift the political paradigm – the mindset of Guyanese politicians to enable a prosperous and united population.
There are lots of wealthy people who can invest in the Arts as Albert Barnes did. History has it that Barnes left America in 1912 with $20,000, he was a visionary collector, and in 1922 he founded the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. He died in 1952 leaving quite a large variety of artworks from all parts of the world. It has since expanded for literary and educational interests. Barnes believed that students would become more productive members of society by way of the Visual and Literary Arts.
Sincerely,
Desmond Alli
General Secretary Guyana United Artists (GUA)
