NICH loses its champion as Yasser bows out
We begin tonight’s newscast on the subject of culture. No, not another art exhibition, music competition or book launch…We’re talking about the politics of culture…and perhaps the culture of politics. It involves the resignation of Yasser Musa as President of NICH, the National Institute of Culture and History. Rumoured for several months, the departure less than two years into the PUP’s second term was confirmed today by Yasser himself. News 5’s Stewart Krohn asked him why, having been the driving force behind what is arguably Government’s most successful initiative, he chose to leave the stage so early in the second act.
Yasser Musa, President, NICH
?I believe the Government of Said Musa has been very active in terms of pushing forward–especially after March 2003–this concept of consolidating the cultural institutes of the country meaning archaeology, research and museums and the things you mentioned. And that it has been a very aggressive and high pitch–so to speak–past two years especially for me. It?s been an incredible experience to be working with so many creative people. But from then when the Prime Minister asked that I come into this public domain, from then I had told him I would really appreciate if it was only for a two year stint. And its coming on to the end of that two years and I decided to do it a little faster because I believe that I have another role to play his Government and starting January, that role would be coming on stream.?
Stewart Krohn
?Several questions; let?s get the last first. What is that new role going to be??
Yasser Musa
?Well it hasn?t been finalized but it?s going to be a role with the Peoples Untied Party. It will be a kind of public relations role. But I believe that I had participated and assisted the Party in the last election with clarifying what is the essential message of the Government. And I believe that right now there is no such clarity in terms of what it is the Government is doing and there is so much that is being done. What is happening is that we have left the sharks to take over and define the message and so I believe there needs to be somebody looking at what that message is?
Stewart Krohn
?Well I can respect what you?re saying. The public take on your resignation says that it more has to do with the fact that with your Minister Mark Espat kind of becoming your father?s advisory within the party that it was no longer tenable for you to be working for him. What?s your reaction to that??
Yasser Musa
?I have never had any problems with the Minister of Culture. We have had an excellent working relationship. But I believe that my role was not necessarily working for a Minister of Culture, I was working for a Said Musa Government. I believe that once you are in a political role–as the president of NICH the role is a political one–we can?t fool ourselves in that. You have to realize that which ever Government is in, that is the Government you serve and that is the Government you are loyal to and I believe that my role starting in January, I can continue that loyalty.?
Stewart Krohn
?Let me move a little bit to the personal. Go back to your younger days; two of your best friends Mark Espat, Jules Vasquez. You flash-forward to today you see and you have Mark Espat seen as your father?s biggest advisory within the Party and you have Jules Vasquez leading the media charge and perhaps the Opposition charge against your father. How you deal with something like that??
Yasser Musa
?Well my primary commitment in terms of anything that I do publicly is to Said Musa. I believe that he is an outstanding person for our time. This is not an easy time. You are a man of the media, you know if a story were to come out on you, you would feel incredibly insulted for weeks and to have a new media situation where there is constant barrage and his ability to withstand it and able to still focus on the real issues because Government and Governance has to continue. You can?t be preoccupied with the media. I believe that my loyalty and commitment to him is unwavering. And both of those young fellows that you?ve mentioned, Jules and Mark, I think that they have an enormous respect for Said Musa. I certainly believe that Jules has his own agenda and that has never interfered with my personal relationship with him. So I don?t know how to answer your question because it would be kind of speculating and that?s the business of what you guys are more in. I don?t know if I am able to speculate. But I just know clearly that I stand committed to the Prime Minister, not only because he is my father, but because I truly believe in what he stands for and I understand and respect what he stands for.?
Musa’s resignation is effective on January first but accounting for accumulated holiday, he will in fact be leaving the post at the end of this month. A new president is expected to be announced shortly and it is likely that the nature of the job may change into a more supervisory, less hands on role.
