Masimba’s calypso beat

What I heard sent me thinking about “roti expenses” too. “Everliving Calypso” sang by Allan “Brother Mudada” Fortune was thunder. Calypso support came from 2016 National Calypso Queen Amrika Mutroo with “All Lives Matter.” Enjoyable melodies came from All Rounder with “We Only Passing Through”, Karene Asche’s “Against All Odds,” Mark “Contender” John with “Can’t Buy One,” 2016 Calypso Monarch Devon Seale with “Pyramid of Love,” and to high-end it all, Singing Sandra, Drupatee Ramgoonai, Timothy “Baron” Watkins, and Edwin “Crazy” Ayoung. Backed by a lively support staff, MCs’ Meagan Sylvester and Omari Ashby rightly called it a “high-class” occasion. But it was the cost-saving initiative by TUCO president Lutalo Masimba (Brother Resistance) that inspired my loud applause. Mr Masimba’s objective is to reduce TUCO’s dependency and elevate the organisation’s professionalism and reputation. Now, this column frowns on those who persist in making little or no effort on their own. And who, wittingly or unwittingly, show little or no regard for the tax dollars that others work hard to pay. After winning last Sunday, Masimba (“Mother Earth”) commendably said: “I give thanks to the Most High. TUCO expects to do some cutting while seeking to deliver a world class product with restricted budget, cognisant of the economic realities.” Mr Masimba’s objective sent my mind to the “roti war.” My civic interest here is not primarily in which Prime Minister spent more than the other. Whether it was $300,000 or $1.6 million. Or whether the roti was dhalpuri, parata or dosti. Just stop it. Whether Eid, Divali, Emancipation or Christmas, stop such lavish, tax-dollared expenditures at this time. For those who wish them, let such occasions be more community- driven than politically-sponsored.

Some may disagree, but governments must have limits. Get back to basic needs. Let the donors and organisers themselves do such celebrations in their various districts.

After all, these religious or cultural occasions essentially rest on humility, simplicity, devout worship and thanksgiving. No doubt, this project began with good intentions. But what is the evidence — the consequences? Firstly, there is no evidence that such expensive, lavish celebrations bring ethnic unity, national harmony or improved social capital to deal with the many social and economic challenges facing this resource-diminished country. On the contrary, there is quite often ethnic arousal of relative deprivation by one against the other. Worse yet, there is collateral damage. The inevitable comparisons of expenditure between one Prime Minister and another will lead to further ethnic and political fractures within an already fragile society.

I say with respect and without malice, find less ostentatious, thrifty ways to celebrate and worship in this multi-racial society of worrisome contradictions, especially when there is no national cultural policy — assuming one is possible.

Any reasonable society will be quite bothered if it sees its government of whichever party demanding that citizens prepare for hard times, spend less, travel less and yet see this same government spending tax-payers’ money in extravagant ways.

I wrong? The society is already deeply troubled by the vanity expenditures and uninspiring examples by those who should know better. This country should be wary of the “anti-establishment anger” now rocking other countries far and wide. Re-elected president Masimba’s appeal to make the 500-member TUCO more self-reliant is a clarion call for others to follow. TUCO could practise self-help but a little push here and there is still necessary. What about that multi-storied, “concrete eye-sore” south of the CRH at Trincity? Long abandoned by its former beneficiary, it should now be given to TUCO with all the elements of accountability inserted. Supported by last Wednesday’s Newsday editorial, Masimba’s passionate calypso beat towards selfhelp should be encouraged.