By JANELLE DE SOUZA Tuesday, July 10 2012

THE Artists’ Coalition of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) is protesting a request by the Ministry of Finance to submit programmes for the 2012/2013 National Budget on the grounds that proposals submitted for the budgets of the two previous years were never implemented.

Noting an absence of institutions, policy and legislation, ACTT said there is now an “expanding crises” in the sector as a result of continuing non-implementation of programmes it submitted for inclusion in various budgets. ACTT, together with the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) at a media conference yesterday at the Communications and Workers Union hall on Henry Street in Port-of- Spain, said that over the years, various leaders have failed to create an enabling environment for the creative and cultural sector to survive.

The Coalition said its members met with the new Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Lincoln Douglas and presented him with the sectors’ thinking.

“The meeting was honest, cordial and encouraging and we hope it will be the beginning of a more progressive relationship with the ministry. The minister’s willingness to meet with multiple stakeholders is a very good sign,” the group said. ACTT yesterday has offered several suggestions for supporting the sector including the immediate setting up of the Arts Council, the fast tracking of the regularisation of land tenure of all panyards, and the immediate convening of a committee to look after the legislative agendas for the Arts with the aim of drafting bills for Parliament. It also suggested the commissioning of the East Port-of-Spain Council of Community Organisations to oversee the progress of the east Port-of-Spain growth pole and heritage city and the release of the draft National Cultural Policy and Heroes Policy for national consultation with due dates for completion of the exercise and adoption of the policies by September 2012.