[www.inewsguyana.com] – It was made pellucid on Friday (January 3) by Youth and Culture Minister Dr. Frank Anthony that the Caribbean Press could face possible closure if finances for the setting up of a permanent Editorial Board is not approved in the 2014 budget.
“If we don’t get the money we will have to close the press down,” he said adding that “it would be a tragic turn for the press.”
The functioning of the Caribbean Press has been the subject of much talk and criticism over the year and has seen a clamor for the setting up of a permanent Editorial Board.
According to Dr. Anthony, to set up such a board will cost a significant amount of money to both set it up and then sustain it since it will entail having to pay for editorial services. Proposals for money in this regard have been made in the 2014 budget, under the Ministry of Culture. The Minister is hopeful that these monies will be approved.
Guyanese Ambassador Dr. David Dabydeen has been functioning as the Executive Editor and Manager of the Press, for free according to Dr. Anthony.
He said many of the persons who have been criticizing the Press, its structure and operations have nothing to contribute to the literary art form locally.
He told reporters that those who have been doing books for free over the years are not happy with the negative press in recent times.
The Caribbean Press is a nonprofit organization which was established to publish the work of Guyanese writers.
