Where is the convalescent home for calypsonians?

In a statement to the media, Ome said his concern was once again ignited at the funeral of calypsonian Samuel “Brigo” Abraham on May 22. Brigo’s son Fr Bonnie Anthony Abraham, officiating at the service for his father at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Port of Spain, asked that a collection be taken up for calypsonians.

The priest said the money would neither go to the church nor the family, but to TUCO to help calypsonians who were ill or in need of help.

Ome, who is also chairman of the Commission on Reparations, said Michael Legerton, as president of TUCO, had spoken about the convalescent home at the National Action Cultural Committee’s (NACC) 18th annual Top 20 Stars of Gold Calypso Award Ceremony at the Cascadia Hotel on January 7, 2006. Legerton, he said, announced that the home would have been facilitated with a subvention from the then government.

“What has really happened to the idea of a convalescent home for calypsonians?” Ome asked.

He said at a meeting with late Chief Servant Makandal Daaga and Legerton at TUCO’s office at Jerningham Avenue, Belmont, he was shown completed drawings for the home. He said then culture minister Winston “Gypsy” Peters had referred to preliminary work on the establishment of the home and implementation of activities and programmes that exposed stakeholders to relevant training in the arts, culture and the preservation of this country’s heritage.

According to Ome, in the 2011 Public Sector Investment Programme it was explicitly stated that an allocation of $5 million had been made towards the construction of the three-storey home.

He said it was stated in the document that the facility was intended to provide nursing and supportive care to patients, primarily members of the calypso fraternity who had been discharged from hospital and were without support at home.

The site for construction of the home was located within the La Reunion Estate at Carapo near Arima.

Ome said that in 2010, TUCO president Lutalo Masimba (Brother Resistance) said there should be a home for artistes and other performers. He said that work on the home was ‘on pause.’ Despite his concern, Ome said TUCO has done a certain amount of welfare work with the calypsonians. He congratulated, in particular, Carlston Kerr (Calypso Kerr) for the work that he has done to maintain certain calypsonians and even chorus singers who have turned to TUCO for help.