Rowley and the Arts

This was Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley’s appeal to the nation’s youth on Saturday night as he delivered the feature address at the Gala launch of the Cazabon Legacy art collection at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.

Rowley said an appreciation of the arts and country’s history could minimise the likelihood of young people being drawn to a life of crime and delinquency.

Noting that four persons were killed recently in his constituency of Diego Martin West, Rowley observed that the country was “grappling with an outpouring of barbarism.” “This is not what we are about.

There is a much wider canvas to Trinidad and Tobago,” he told guests, who included members of Government, the Diplomatic Corps, legal fraternity, cultural luminaries and representatives of civil society organisations.

Rowley stressed that greater attempts must be made to expose young children to the arts and other expressions which reflects the best of Trinidad and Tobago.

“If this is done, then it is my hope that the behaviour of the country might change.” Rowley said he was certain that the vast majority of young people did not know anything about Cazabon and his contribution to local culture.

Michel Jean-Cazabon was an internationally recognised 19th century artist who died in 1888.

His paintings which depicted salient aspects of the country’s history, capture sceneries and portraits of 19th century planters, merchants as well as workers and their families.

Charting the history of this country’s attempts to reclaim Cazabon’s work, Rowley recalled that he had encouraged late prime minister, Patrick Manning, in 2004, to purchase some of the artist’s paintings which were being auctioned in the United Kingdom.

Rowley said when he became prime minister last year, he again encouraged the Cabinet to deliberate on purchasing the remainder of the collection.

“It is my belief that a people who is uninterested in art and history are people who are not worthy,” he said.

Saturday’s exhibition, which is being housed at the Diplomatic Centre, features 49 of Cazabon’s pieces. It is open to the public on Tuesdays to Sundays until September 24 (Republic Day). Rowley encouraged guests to view the paintings. “Look at the paintings and transpose yourself from there to where we are now.” Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly also urged the audience to ponder on the pieces which, she said, were part of this country’s cultural heritage