We note comments attributed to Minister Steve Blackett, appearing in one section of the press of September 2, 2008. It was stated that high on his list of priorities is the fashioning of the NCF into a developmental and commercial body designed to boost the nation’s cultural industries and make the performing and visual arts, far more profitable for artistes, the creative designers, composers and others who make culture a way of life.

Nothing is wrong with that! However, there is something very wrong when he accuses the former administration of “neglect.” Any responsible Minister of Culture would be more careful, as regards accuracy. This is not the first time the Minister has made a major error on matters of fact.

If one were to search the DLP’s 2008 Manifesto, from cover to cover, you will not see the words: “cultural industry.” In fact, the DLP’s policy on culture is expressed in three vague paragraphs on pages 21 of that Manifesto. One can safely conclude that the cultural industry is a new discovery for that administration, which is getting fatigue quickly. Blackett’s inaccurate statement is inexcusable. It would also be very upsetting to know that this country’s Minister of Culture does not read.

Had he been in the habit of doing so, he would have been aware of pages 81-89 of Prime Minister Arthur’s 2003 Economic and Financial Policy Statement, which outlined Barbados’s policy on the cultural industries. Steve Blackett would have also been aware of pages 22 and 23 of the Barbados Labour Party’s 2008 Manifesto and pages 28 and 29 and 185 -186 of the National Strategic Plan 2006-2025, which his party refused to debate in Parliament. We have absolutely no knowledge that the DLP has introduced any “progressive; people-friendly,” alternative social or economic policies in this country.

On page 24 of our 2008 Manifesto, a commitment was given to: “Revamp the NCF so that its focus would be to strengthening of the Barbados identity and play a more developmental role within communities.

In short, it is the policy of the Barbados Labour Party to develop the cultural industries as a new engine of economic growth and development, with a view to enhance the competitiveness of the Barbados economy. We feel that the cultural industries must be a key component of the creative economy and laid the foundation for such to occur.

The creative energy, which the BLP put into the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) demonstrates our strong commitment to provide greater opportunities for artists and performers and all persons who make a living through the provision of services. We have paved the way for Barbadians to work in and have access to markets in “Europe,” which was hitherto impossible.

We note that government has caused the CSME process to be derailed, and that - despite the support of the present Opposition (which did the “donkey work,” on the EPA) this government is not moving forward with the urgency, which would be in the interest of Barbadians and our economy.

Similarly, Steve Blackett is merely running with an initiative, where the ground-work has already been done by us. He therefore sets a very bad example, since his comments give the impression that the cultural industries are a new discovery by him. Such can be considered a copyright violation. Better is expected from a government, which promised change and integrity.

Given the rumblings in Cabinet, Blackett has to be constantly looking over his shoulder. However, his borrowed ideas would not have been enough to save his job, were he in a Cabinet that had good talent to draw on. He has acted hastily and casually by claiming credit for other people’s ideas. Here is a view expressed by then Minister of Culture, Mr. Arthur, in his 2003 Financial Statement: “Pirating people’s intellectual property is as reprehensible as stealing from their homes or from their offices.”
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