Calypso a powerful tool, warns senator

WARNING that calypso is “a powerful tool,” Opposition Senator Roy Augustus said the popular art-form must never be used to encourage people to commit criminal acts. Speaking during debate on legislation to amend the Summary Courts Act in the Senate yesterday, Augustus claimed that Trinidad and Tobago was currently “descending into a pit of violence” and nothing must be done by those in authority to hasten that descent. Referring directly to calypsonian Cro Cro’s controversial social commentary “Face Reality,” Augustus warned that Government must “not allow agents to create situations to cause people to create crime.”

He said Government must not give licence “to influential people” to encourage criminal activity, and claimed there was a perception in certain sections of the society that the ruling PNM was silently condoning the calypso. On Sunday, National Security Minister Martin Joseph said he had not heard the calypso and promised to comment after he had done so. However, Joseph added that he could not advocate anything that was contrary to law and order in the society. Augustus expressed overall support for the legislation, saying it was a step in the right direction “to provide better justice for the poor man.” The UNC senator questioned the system of bail in TT and wondered whether the poor had equal access to bail. However, Augustus quickly added that he was not advocating land for all since land was one requirement regarding access to bail. Earlier in the sitting, Senate President Linda Baboolal clipped UNC Senator Robin Montano’s wings when he attempted to speak about Cro Cro’s calypso.

Montano also had to be corrected by Attorney General John Jeremie about statements he (Montano) was making in reference to the equal opportunity legislation, problems affecting the Judiciary, and why the Summary Court legislation lapsed in the House of Representatives. On the former, Jeremie indicated that the matter was now before the courts. On the latter two, the AG said the Judiciary was responsible for physical maintenance of the courts and Government assisted with the bureaucratic side of things. The Summary Court legislation lapsed because, Jeremie said,  it had deficiencies which have since been corrected.