Dimache Gras changes necessary

THE EDITOR: I believe in the new proposals being made by TUCO and its president, Mr Michael Legerton to improve the quality, content of the duration of calypsos in local Carnival competitions. I agree with them imposing a time limit on the performance time of calypsonians during the Dimache Gras calypso competition. I also applaud their stand on not allowing the use of “sampled music” from other artistes, whether it is from pop music or from previous calypsos, for calypsos in the running for Road March. My only contentions with their proposals are why were these not announced way before the start of the 2004 Carnival season? Carnival is something that everyone knows comes once a year and approximately when it will be. Carnival in TT is also now almost a year-round business and is not something that is only worked on come January.

Since this is the case, why did TUCO not make these proposals/recommendations or “rule changes” for the 2004 Carnival known back in July or maybe as late as September or October of 2003. This would have given the artistes who were working on songs for 2004, time to adjust their music to meet the new requirements. I believe it is too late for the 2004 Carnival season to expect these artistes to change their works for this year. So, maybe they can be given “a pass” for this year, with the implementation of the “new rules” to start in 2005. I agree that the Dimache Gras show does indeed go on far too long and needs to be peered down to a reasonable time. Even the current five hours that they are hoping to implement this year is an awful long time to have anyone sit through a performance, whether they are watching it on TV from the comfort of their home or in person (on those raggedy (hard) chairs in the Savannah.

So, I do agree that limiting the length of the calypsonians’ performance to 5-8 minutes per song is indeed reasonable and will give the artiste ample time on stage for his/her performance. I know change is a hard thing to accept, and no one wants to see things changed. But change is inevitable. The growth in scope and popularity of the event; locally, regionally and internationally, have made these changes absolutely necessary. So, these and other changes on how Carnival is run need to be implemented to save the annual festival from dying a slow and painful death under the weight of itself. These changes/improvements, in the long run, will enhance the quality of Carnival in TT and make the Carnival experience more enjoyable for all.

KELVIN JAMES, Sr
Port-of-Spain