Appreciating Citizen Cazabon’s art work

The 2,000 figure seemed to be amusing to the Opposition. A few people appeared to smirk. One could only conclude that they expected him to say three million as that was the price paid for these rare and valuable paintings.

Apart from Cazabon being as Trini to the bone as any of us, it is the estimation of those in the know regarding art acquisition that the fee paid was a steal of a deal for Cazabon’s home country. The paintings are worth far more on the open market.

Plus of course the paintings belong to TT for posterity.

Fast forward a few days and we have the NCIC asking for a donation of $5 million to stage Divali Nagar 2016, which is indelibly important to the preservation of our Indian culture.

How much more money will it be asking of taxpayers for 2017, 2018 or even 2019? Is it that the preservation of Indian culture is more important to sense of nationhood above those citizens who like and appreciate western culture? What of those citizens who identify with Cazabon? The NCIC did not always ask for $5 million.

It used to be less.

Consider this: How many people will visit the Divali Nagar? What percentage of visitors will be curious tourists, either foreign or local? Is there anybody in the Opposition laughing about the amount the NCIC is asking? Three million remains a steal of a deal for Cazabon’s art work and is not a recurring financial decimal. More importantly, are our innocent little Indo-Trinidadian children not being encouraged to appreciate western art and culture? Will they not be allowed to view paintings done by another citizen? Is this the reason the broad-based Indo political party, the United National Congress, is unable to gain political traction when it needs votes in a general election? Not enough understanding beyond the UNC heartlands? Preservation of religion and culture should not exclude any citizen from wider learning.

Knowledge is power. In TT , in 2016, being able to appreciate everyone’s art and religion translates into measurable political power.

Lynette Joseph Diego Martin