Artist Coalition (ACTT) Welcomes New Government

Tuesday 25th May 2010

The Artist Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) would like to welcome our new Prime Minister the Honourable Ms. Kamla Persard-Bissessar, the first elected female Prime Minister of our blessed nation. We also congratulate the People’s Partnership on their victory in the 2010 General Election.

The Interim President and Board of ACTT look forward to this new dispensation of government and vow to partner with them to make this the best period for the Arts that this country has ever seen. As artist representatives we hope and pray that the relationship between artists and politicians for this term will be marked with consultation, a respect for Heritage and Legacy, and an abiding respect for the stakeholders.

Arising from the just concluded election campaign, the nation and both major political parties must surely now realise the power that art and culture has. Art and culture were determining elements in the campaign- and may even have been determining factors in victory. Both camps invested heavily in culture: in campaign songs, graphics, fashion, speech writing, and theatre. With this obvious embrace of art and culture to get elected, we at ACTT are hoping that the investment continues through the years to come.

We must also mention the role that ACTT’s release of the NAPA Report must have played in unraveling the last administration. A cautionary note for all politicians not to take artists for granted! ACTT now looks forward to working with all other cultural stakeholders and the government in the fulfillment of the promises featured in the Partnership’s Manifesto- and beyond.
Again congratulations to the People’s Partnership on your victory. We look forward to a strong working relationship with your administration in the months and years ahead.

From the interim board of ACTT:
• Rubadiri Victor President
• Sheldon Manoo Vice President
• Fabien Alfonso General Secretary
• Shawn Randoo Assistant Secretary
• Stuart Fortune Treasurer

For further information contact:
Fabien Alfonso
Email: info@riatt.org
1-868- 707-0400