TIDCO cuts Boogsie’s pay

The Tourism and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TIDCO), yesterday confirmed that ace musician Len “Boogsie” Sharpe is no longer on the payroll of the organisation.

As a Cultural Ambassador attached to TIDCO, Sharpe had been enjoying the monthly payments since February 1, 2000. This came about following the launch of the Pan Trinbago Foundation at the residence of the Prime Minister in January 2000. At the function, after Sharpe and another ace musician Pelham Goddard entertained the audience, then Prime Minister Basdeo Panday said that it was important to bind pannists to what we have to present to the outside world. With that in mind, Vishnu Ramlogan, who was at the helm of TIDCO at the time, made the necessary recommendations to his board and soon Boogsie was on TIDCO’s payroll.

Asked whether the decision to stop the payments was political, or if there was any misdemeanor on the part of the artiste to warrant the termination of the monthly stipend, Corporate Communications Manager at TIDCO Renatta Mohammed responded in the negative. She went on to state that the action came about after an internal financial and needs review was done. “Instead, Sharpe will be paid for his services on an “as needed” basis only, as obtains for other performers who support the efforts of the national promotional agency at home and abroad,” said Mohammed. She added that TIDCO believes that its decision is fair to all involved and is in keeping with the company’s values of “transparency and fairness” to include the display of high standard of professional conduct.