There is a meeting scheduled for Thursday 5 April 2012 at 6PM. All those interested should visit the Empire Strikes Back Facebook Page and get involved..
During Budget 2011 the government promised to debate the Cultural Industries Bill (CIB) in parliament towards the end of that financial year. It is rapidly approaching the end of March 2012 and the revised date for debating this Bill is now slated for May according to a BU source. At face value many are happy that focus will be brought to a sector which has been neglected by successive governments. This is despite the potential of the sector for Barbadians to grow and promote cultural expression. BU is reminded that in Budget 2011 mention was made of of the government’s intention to guarantee a “special purpose vehicle, a facility to provide for the borrowing of $50 million dollars in amounts of $10 million every year for the next five years starting in 2012 to support this mechanism.” Obviously it makes no sense to float the bond issue before the CIB is enacted.
To ensure the foundation to successfully grow and promote the cultural industry is created, the importance of the creative industries component is integral to the process as exemplified during the UK Budget last week. “In somewhat unexpected news, he [Chancellor George Osborne] also announced that tax relief would become available to the animation and video game sectors beginning in April 2013.” The fact that the draft of the CIB contains so many typos and even makes reference to Cap. 308, when is allotted to the Companies Act of the Laws of Barbados is foreboding to the seriousness; or lack of, by those leading the process in government. There is no reason why animation and video creation cannot be an avenue of opportunity for Barbadians given our level education and telecommunications infrastructure. The CIB will have to provide inducements to encourage change in mindset where we see ourselves as creators and not end users.
It is noteworthy that in the last 3 to 5 years African movies have become very popular. The film industry is another avenue which must be adequately addressed. The CIB must find the balance in its substance which encourages local industry and at the same time makes Barbados a location of choice to support world class productions. The Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley made mention in the recent debate of the Estimates that he has held discussions with potential clients in this regard. That film producers have to meet with a minister to explore opportunities in Barbados should worry us all. What does a minister know about the business, his role is leading policy formulation is it not? In the same way we have a Czar for AIDS advocacy, so too the film industry will need a person or committee possessed with the knowledge and experience of the business of culture. There are millions of dollars to be made and the benefit to local industry operating in a space where the best in the sector is facilitated to ply their trade cannot be overstated. Remember the strategy is to nurture local talent and simultaneously enable the environment to entice players from the international arena to operate in Barbados.
There can be no doubt the proclamation of the CIB represents a significant piece of legislation in our post Independence period. Given our dependence on a tired economic model, it is imperative the CIB has the catalytic effect to grow the cultural industries and at the same time be a driver for economic activity. It is worrying therefore to note the concern by many that the CIB has not been vigorously debated by a wide cross section of Barbadians. To date most of the feedback about the CIB has come from the usual suspects and has been mainly top down. It should come as no surprise if the current process is allowed to continue – to satisfy a general election agenda – Barbadians would have allowed a government to enact a useless piece of legislation in its current form.
Let us get to the point. The draft CIB is nothing more than an opportunity to distribute jobs to the political hacks. What the CIB says, dressed up in legislative legalese, is that we will give the usual suspects a chance to bring arts industry equipment and supplies into Barbados possibly tax free, if you brown nose to some entity identified in the CIB. The members all of whom would be cherry picked by the minister. The government will also give you a tax break and the fact that most arts undertakings are for cash and there is ripping off the tax people big time already, counts for nothing. Most importantly, a cabinet which has been labelled the biggest ever in our post Independence period will probably have to be increased by one. Government as we have seen, even in the current challenging economic environment, will seize the opportunity to give jobs to those who need to suck on the teat of the fatted calf.
To develop and effectively manage culture to use the jargon, requires a paradigm shift to how we now do business. To burden the process by establishing a layer of bureaucracy is not recommended. In the competitive world we live in to be nimble is a perquisite to success. BU humbly suggests that a departure from the old way of appointing oversight bodies is required as far as the cultural industry is concerned.
One aspect of nurturing a successful cultural industry in Barbados is the need to enter and police the world of copyright. It is an expensive undertaking and requires personnel knowledgeable in this arm of law and practice. A read of the CIB and related discussion makes no mention of the world of copyright in any cogent way. At this mid to end stage of the process BU has misgivings about the path the CIB is following. Although Barbadians are generally passive about actively participating in their democracy – a paradox if ever there was one – the CIB serves as another opportunity for Barbadians to step up. Why should we wait until the CIB is read a first time in the Lower House to identify concerns? The recent crash of the Antiquities Bill should serve as a reminder that the process of drafting legislation which is fit for purpose is not always perfect. Coincidentally it is the same minister Stephen Lashley who is leading the CIB.
BU took the initiative to communicate with a few international producers and to a man and woman, the proposed CIB was cited as a document which will not achieve the aim. It is interesting to note from the feedback similar legislation in the Isle of Man, United Kingdom and Canada were cited as models which the Barbados government should follow. Additional feedback made it clear that if the government intends to attract international business to Barbados as part of the thrust to create economic opportunity in the creative industries, the draft CIB must be amended.
Feedback in summary:
Unsuccessful Programs
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Corrupt officials and practices overhauled and at times destroyed any and all programs – In the past few years in the USA, state run tax incentives laws and film were shut down because of corruption. The same thing happened in Germany, a few were tossed in jail.
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Culture Programs were structured by business and government officials who were qualified in their disciplines but were clueless about the business of culture (creative industries). The result a maze of convoluted processes which acted as a deterrent. Such a system again will breed corrupt practices by those with deep pockets who want to access tax incentives until exhausted.
Successful Programs
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Tax incentives to lure investors must be competitive
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Structures must be attractive and secure i.e.decisions/promises made must be delivered on or the word will spread in the industry fast.
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There is a learning curve which can be travelled quickly by using Canada’s blueprint to develop a world class environment to support film production. In Canada and Israel for example although the creative industries operate under the ministry of arts and culture the legislative framework gives autonomy to the entities responsible for animation, film, new media and other creative industries. There must be a win win for investors, production, local talent, government and all the stakeholders.
In summary:
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The draft CIB is vague
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It is not clear how the CIB will nurture culture and coterminously create economic value. The two strategies must be hand in glove
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A vibrant culture cannot flourish if the output is not rigorously copyrighted. The world of copyright is complex and expensive but is a perquisite to create security for the local players in the culture space
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The success of the industry will require an oversight board which is broad based and knowledgeable. Definitely not government bureaucrats i.e.politicians and civil servants
BU does not usually compile lengthy blogs but the breath of this topic is wide. After 1500+ words large junks of information unfortunately had to be omitted. Let us hope that the BU family and others in social media will use the opportunity to contribute to the Cultural Industries Bill which has the potential to grow a culture sector still in its nascent stage and at the same time explode growth in the creative industries which is needed for the economic value in will offer.
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