WHEN I served on the past ERC representing Afro-Guyanese, I engaged another member who represented another group, and beyond our differences of orientation, we articulated two realities. Most citizens, given the high-layer naysayers around us, did not find our discussion significant enough; this was puzzling to me. How could such folk not comprehend that we were referring to ideas and the pageantry of thousands of years past that were reworked in numerous ways, had inspired so many royals across time, and halted so many wars? It was obvious to both of us that Guyana’s popular storytellers, in weaving truths, have also demonstrated the shamefulness of the double rift of strife.
Our discussion, on my behalf, followed a proposal I had made at the first meeting of the then Commission, which was not raised again until much later. Of the “then” I now refer to, I was confused that, over so many years that had passed, only a few who held the staff of authority understood the infinity of our common conversation that day in the ERC of not so long ago. Only a young member of the private-sector commission, a guest of the ERC, openly agreed with our present debate… and yes, I was astonished that only this member had found kinship with our presentation of the discussion. However, slowly, in privacy, we had to explain where we were going with this, and why!
The truth is that the arts are an economic realm, not easily attainable, but with the right minds, can bridge rivers and not be devoured by the lurking trolls with smiles and razor-sharp fangs… that pretend to be bridge keepers with good intentions…
Managing “the creator realms as industry” must be like any enterprise that requires practitioners and seasoned producers in any field of creativity. We have lost many. Even as I script this article, I hold grief for my friend Rupert Roopnarine, an artist-filmmaker. Even as we lose, we must contemplate that we must replace and hold respect for those who still remain and are emerging. That submission at the first ERC meeting back then is even more relevant today. We stand on the shoulders of many who have shaped what we have as a rich cultural expression in so many years; our task is to honour and take further the rich cultural heritage—those who are with us and those who have left our sphere. My colleague and I at the ERC both agreed that there is a need for practitioners in any field involved to achieve the best results and minds.

DE LAMENTABLES