Chutney artiste calls on minister to launch probe

Chutney artiste Nirmal “Massive” Gosine launched a stinging attack on a copyright organisation while speaking at the anti-piracy march on the Brian Lara Promenade on Friday. Gosine took to the stage and begged the public not to encourage the business of piracy while praising the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) for the work it has been doing. Gosine also said, “A certain copyright organisation has been collecting money for years and has not paid out any royalties to the artistes to date. I now ask the minister to launch an investigation into that organisation.” All this was done in the presence of Minister of Legal Affairs Senator Danny Montano, staff of the Intellectual Property Office and Allison Dumas, CEO of COTT.

Gosine’s allegation was refuted by Dr Vijay Ramlal, head of the Trinidad and Tobago Copyright Organisation (TTOC), when he appeared on stage to give his speech. Ramlal was very short — he endorsed what previous speakers said and then added, “Massive has made some allegations but I have told the minister he can inspect my books at anytime. They are there for him to see.” Comedian/producer Errol Fabien also made a plea for more local music to be played in Trinidad and Tobago so our children will grow up knowing it. “Every time they turn on the radio they hear foreign music so that is what they will like,” he said. Music producer Kenny Phillips of KMP Music Lab reluctantly came on stage to voice his opinion. He told the gathering, “I have been doing this for six years now, I am fed up, God knows I did not want to come up here to say anything. “But I am seeing things happening under a new leadership and I hope this will lead to results. People don’t let me be fed up by myself.”