(Kaieteur News) – From Minister Susan Rodrigues blaming 1992’s economic hardships for Guyana’s cultural scene in 2026 to Al Creighton telling creatives that outdated copyright laws shouldn’t stop people from hiring lawyers when their ideas are stolen, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Orange Economy consultation evoked the onomatopoeic expression of the descending notes of a sad trombone: “whomp whomp whomp.”

Held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on 18th June, persons in the Dome noted that it followed a similar pattern to the National Toshaos Council, where, though a consultation, the majority of speaking time was given to the Ministers Susan Rodrigues, Charles Ramson and Steven Jacobs, all of whom spoke glowingly of the work of the Ministry, and five minutes to the actual industry professionals.

Strategically placed after the industry professionals was someone government-aligned to present the opportunities “what is working”, almost as if to provide a soothing cooling relief after a scathing burn and indictment of Guyana’s cultural landscape”.