It is rather shocking how some members of our society could stoop so low to carry out an attack on our own National Cultural Centre, which over the decades was graced by both local and international artistes of very outstanding repute.

The mind boggles when people, who in the past might have graced the auditorium of that magnificent structure some time or the other, viewing breath-taking performances, might have been involved in the attempted destruction of the very haven that brought solace to them.

The least that could be said is that the attempted destruction of this monumental edifice for cultural activities, lectures, crusades and other art forms is a dastardly act of cowardice. Could it be an extension of the infamous X-13 plan hatched in the 1960s? We would all hope not, because if it is then we are in a very precarious situation.

Who in their right senses would want to destroy such a masterpiece, which have over the decades, extended its towering facilities for the presentation and furthering of cultural activities in Guyana?

The people believe that such acts could be carried out only by mad men. The people also remember the saying which goes: “Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make them mad.”

Although the people wish to refrain from calling names, they remember only too well, a certain political party’s threat to make CARIFESTA unmanageable if the government does not meet some foolish, unrealistic, outlandish and nonsensical demands put forward by that party–such demands that could never be entertained in any civil society.

The public wishes for it to be known that like CARIFESTA, the National Cultural Centre was also the brainchild of late President and PNC leader, Forbes Burnham by monies from the Indian Immigration Fund, a fund set aside for the repatriation of Indian Immigrants to India.

Had Burnham been alive today, the people wonder what he might have said. Had he been buried, he might have been turning in his grave. The attack on the Cultural Centre serves to expose the savagery in those involved against the factory of their own kith and kin.

The people believe that if the fire that started on the draw screen had spread, it would have ignited the explosives which were under the stage and this would have been a complete disaster. But the screen was made from materials which are fire resistant which helped to contain the spread of the flames

The people note that the Cultural Centre is one of the many venues in the country where representatives from various countries in the CARICOM grouping will be performing their art forms, and disaster to the Cultural Centre would have been a big setback.

But the people admire the gallantry in Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony who was among scores of persons including artistes at the scene when he said in an invited comment that nothing will stop Guyana from staging CARIFESTA X.

We note that the Minister who is hell bent on seeing through CARIFESTA X in Guyana come August this year, further added that the necessary repairs to the damaged section would begin almost immediately and the authorities will go back to the drawing board to review the security situation ahead of the mega event.

While the people appreciate the comment and commitment by the Minister, they believe that security should be beefed up at all the other venues that would be hosting CARIFESTA X activities.

CARIFESTA belongs to all the people of Guyana and we as patriotic Guyanese are committed to stand guard against all those, who, in the name of bigotry would stop at nothing to satisfy their desire for power.

In the words of Bertrand Russell: “All human activity is prompted by desire.”

Guyanese are determined and confident that come what may, there will be nothing stopping CARIFESTA X.