Chutney video for MTV viewers

THE NATIONAL Chutney Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago (NCFTT) is presently working towards producing a $750,000 video production that would be aired to over 1.1 billion viewers world-wide via MTV India.

This was explained by NCFTT’s Chairman, Vijay Ramlal, during a press conference held at City Hall, Knox Street,  Port-of-Spain on Tuesday, to announce a merger between the National Trade Union Centre (NATUC), the National Cultural Promotions of Trinidad and Tobago (NCP) and NCFTT. The proposal to produce the two hour production was made by MTV India and is based on the NCFTT”s ability to present a two hour international standard video production. Ramlal stated that this is an honour for the NCFTT and is the first time in the country’s history that something like this has been done. He said that the NCFF has held discussions with the Minister of Culture and the Director of Culture, and noted that although it is a National Chutney Monarch Competition, they would include other aspects of the national culture including pan, calypso, parang and ragga at the finals of the competition. In addition the edited version of the video will feature snippets of scenic parts of Trinidad and Tobago, so that people who see this production, will not only see the variety of culture that TT possess, but also the scenic beauty of the country.

Ramlal explained that the NCFTT is still in dialogue with TIDCO and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism on how best to package this production. He also noted that the Foundation was seeking MTV India’s assistance to have MTV Canada and America show this production on their network. At present the NCFTT is footing the bill to produce the entire production. However, the NCFTT is in negotiation with MTV India to make the production a financial tradeoff for 2004. At present the video production is costing $750,000, with $288,000 of that figure towards payment of prizes. Ramlal explained that several members of the corporate sector have come on-board to assist with the funding of the competition. However the NCFTT is hoping that they re-consider their financial commitment, based on the figure that is now required to have the production completed.

With regard to the merger between the union and the NCFTT, Ramlal explained that this combination marks a new approach to our social and cultural contract with the people of TT. President/General of NATUC, Robert Giuseppi stated that his union saw this venture as the first of many opportunities for the union and the entertainment industry.He noted that the country did not have any infrastructure for culture and this was one of the projects the union would be working on. He said that entertainers in Trinidad and Tobago were not being given the opportunity to make a real living. He said that in the other 20-20 societies the entertainers make money, while our entertainers have to beg and scrape to make ends meet. Giuseppi issued a call for other members of the entertainment industry to consider a merger with the union for the betterment of the industry.