‘We will support this project to the end’, he says

“This is just the beginning,” President Bharrat Jagdeo said as he launched the first 11 Guyana Classics, in a series of 36 which focuses on literary works of renowned Caribbean artistes, at the Umana Yana, last evening.

The 11 titles include ‘The Discoverie of Guyana’ by Sir Walter Raleigh; ‘The Chinese in British Guiana’ by Sir Cecil Clementi; ‘The Shadow Bride’ by Roy Heath; ‘The Asylum Journal’ –Volumes One and Two, by Robert Grieve; ‘The Coolie –His rights and wrongs’, by John Edward Jenkins; ‘Canoe and Camp Life in British Guiana’ by Charles Barrington Browning; ‘Guianese Poetry –Covering the Hundred Years’ Period 1831 – 1931’, by Norman Eustace Cameron; ‘Selected Poems’ by Egbert Martin; ‘The First Essay’ by Theophilius Richmond; and ‘Selected Poems – Poesias Escogidos’, by Martin Wylde Carter.

Amidst a gathering of culture connoisseurs, the President made it clear that no amount of money could have delivered the publications, and he lauded the efforts of the project’s visionaries, Dr. Ian McDonald and Professor David Dabydeen.

“We will support this project to the end,” Jagdeo posited.

On the same note he reflected on the efforts of the late Mrs. Janet Jagan to revive the arts. According to the President the former president’s efforts were “tireless” in advancing a revival of expressive arts in Guyana.

“She recognised in the initial years that things were very difficult and often was very creative in trying to get many initiatives supporting the art,” he said.
Jagdeo observed that this commitment is entrenched in the hearts of many people and affirmed that the revival of the arts is an “absolutely necessary task” to complete the revival of the society.

Alluding to the efforts of the PPP/C administration, the President said in the initial years, the emphasis was on the “basic” things, water and health care –for example, but made it clear that this in no way negated recognition of the need for the arts.

“As the country progressed – today we are doing that significantly, the focus shifted a bit,” Jagdeo said.

He reminded the gathering at the Unman Yana that in the current administration’s 2006 manifesto, $100M was committed to the same, in addition to the budgeted amount for the operations of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport.

That done, Jagdeo said there is now available a pool of resources to support the Guyana Classics initiative as well as several other initiatives aimed at developing the arts.
According to the President, for a culturally young country, Guyana has sufficient achievements to start forging a unique Caribbean/Guyanese identity.
“The source of inspiration for that identity lies not in economic well-being; you can have economic well-being everywhere…It is recognized that literary arts is important,” he said.

In addition to the literary arts, Jagdeo committed to working with groups to advance the culture.

The Head of State said, “If we can define this (the expressive arts’ advancement) as uniquely Caribbean, it would not just be inspiring people and forging a greater belonging to this region…It will also be a huge generator of income.”

Once more the President reiterated his support, by “giving grants,” for other proposals that seek to pilot advancements in this direction.

Linking these proposals to revive the arts, Jagdeo said, will also situate it in the “big future” of arts in Guyana.

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said reprinting written language is an effort that will be pursued in the long run.
“We are bringing the written language to the youth,” he said.

He added that with the establishment of the Caribbean Publishing House, in May 2009, Guyana will be able to make to Guyana’s words heard.
He added that the press is one that is available to the entire Caribbean.

“We have a rich literary tradition and if we want to continue this and affect the persons of the next generation,” Anthony said.
He added that a subscribers’ list will be complied based on demand.

Dr. Ian McDonald stressed that the contribution made by this effort is nothing less than valuable.

According to him, it shows that the current administration values not only material things but also initiatives that nourish the mind and keep alive the cultural tapestry of the nation.

This future, according to Professor David Dabydeen, is being built on a number of “firsts.”

He said one of the “firsts” is the book that looked at the first study on Chinese life in the early days of Guyana, as well as the study on Indian life with ‘The Coolie – his rights and wrongs’. Dabydeen pointed out that in the space of five months a “major task” was pulled off with each of the 11 publications carrying scholarly essays.

According to the professor the upcoming publications include focus on Berbice slavery and Amerindian life, among many others.

He also said public libraries and secondary schools in Guyana will also be in the possession of the 11 publications.

In keeping with this idea, President Jagdeo handed over a collection of the Guyana Classics to the University of Guyana and the National Library.