Privy Council for our pre-Carnival shows

THE EDITOR: We should get a Privy Council for pre-Carnival social activities — calypso and steel band competitions for starters. The IMF and World Bank are already calling the shots that influence our economic and social life in TT. We could now do with the implementation of a pseudo Privy Council to instruct us about the “dos” and “don’ts” with regard to our pre-Carnival celebrations including the Dimanche Gras show.

However, I would be remiss if I fail to point out the flawless judging in the Soca Monarch show.  Chairman William Munro should start teaching Course 101 “How to manage a successful social event,” for the benefit of TUCO and Pan Trinbago, which would serve both in good stead. The Privy Council’s job would be to reverse all the unpopular decisions made by the judges in our pre-Carnival shows.

Let’s address calypso first: The current process in the selection of qualified   calypsonians for the semi-finals leaves a lot to be desired. What yardstick is used in the selection process when a four time, consecutive Calypso Monarch like Duke is omitted from the finals for Bomber. Even if the age factor weighed heavily on this decision, it still seemed outrageous. Cro Cro, on the other hand, was treated as a disruptive schoolboy with his omission being nothing short of a good “scolding” for just being his inimitable self. A true artist can only express his innermost feelings through his art.

Most of us may not be as fortunate as Cro Cro, who has been blessed with an enviable talent which should not be stymied or disregarded. (If only the judges’ deliberations on the Cro Cro matter was as bonafide as Cro Cro’s calypsos). Cro Cro, Luta and Duke’s misfortune stem from all of them being from Point Fortin.
They were all victims of the anti Point Fortin sentiment that was pervasive in the decision meted out by the judges. The judging, like the selection process, also laid an “egg”.
The selection of Sandra as Calypso Monarch was a grave injustice when taking into account that this was not “1999”, which was her year. This year belonged to Chalkdust, Mystic Prowler or Heather Mc Intosh.

On the matter of the choice of Singing Sandra as Calypso Monarch, if this was intended to be a Carnival dedicated to “women”, Heather Mc Intosh, beyond the shadow of a doubt, would have been a most worthy and more deserving choice than Singing Sandra. With impartial judging, either Mystic Prowler or Chalkdust could have easily run away with the crown. Carnival 2003 would best be remembered as the year that the title of the Calypso Monarch was given away — “just so.” Let’s move on to the judging of the Dimanche Gras steel band finals. What must Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove do to catch the favour and eyes of the judges? This steel band final should rightly be called: “A congeniality contest”. Popularity took precedence over musical harmony. All of Boogsie Sharpe’s efforts and hard work were lost on the judges. Petrotrin Phase II was penalised for being slow in getting on stage for its rendition.

Minor infringements in the arts are treated very harshly and at times very stringently, while gross misconduct and tardiness are habitually condoned in our everyday endeavours. Both commentators covering the show on television gave Phase II very high marks. One of the commentators, Alvin Daniel, on interviewing Boogsie Sharpe told him that Phase II’s renditions were the best he had ever experienced. His co-commentator who was doing the analysis gave Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove the highest score of the night, because of its spectacular performance. The remarks of both commentators did not seem like idle talk or posturing because I shared their sentiments. In the eyes of the judges Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove could do no better than an unconscionable third.

Our myopic way of doing things in every endeavour is hurting us “to the bone”. We should all become a little introspective and ask ourselves how much do we care about calypso, our steel band and our arts in general and our country? The answer is — very little. In conclusion, as talent would have it not luck, the Road March title went deservedly, to another by-product of Point Fortin — nothing succeeds like success. Fortunately, for Fay-Ann Lyons, this decision was not left to the judges with their pre-conceived ideas about the rural south in general and Point Fortin in particular. The people, the true arbiter, made their feelings known with their choice of the tune for the Road March title. Raw talent will always supersede petty indifferences.

ULRIC  GUY
Point Fortin