BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – VETERAN calypsonian, businessman and Political Science lecturer Duncan ‘Big Lice’ Wattley claims that he is the voice of the people and his renditions would always be politically-based.
Big Lice made this pronouncement, among others, yesterday afternoon (Dec. 14) during a live interview with WINN FM’s Clive Bacchus at the Sugar Mill shortly before the commencement of the Sugar Mas’ 43 Senior Calypso Monarch Semi-Finals.
“I just believe that somebody needs to represent the people and I see myself as being one of those calypsonians to do that,” was his response to why do you pick all those controversial things and put them into songs.
Big Lice did not participate in last year’s competition and gave an explanation as to his absence and also the reason for his presence at Sugar Mas’ 43.
“It was a personal conviction and I got a bit of flak from the fans, because they wanted to hear Calypso and they were thinking that...you know it is very similar to the Government not going to the Parliament and protesting and they say they want you to go and represent. I went through the same thing and the people said we understand what you are saying, but we want you to sing because you are like the voice of the people and so we want you to come and compete.
“So I decided okay, I said no Motion no Kaiso but because of the fans. So if you hear the song ‘The Decision’, it is a double barrel issue that speaks about me making a decision to come back. It also speaks about the decision that people make on the early election that is close by. So, that inspired me in making the decision to come back.”
He said that his second song, ‘How low can you Go’, speaks to political issues in the Federation.
“The gist of the song, if you listen to Parliament last week you will understand what the song is all about...so I am asking a question and I am highlighting some of the stuff that I believe there are some low points in our politics as they relate to the Leader in particular and so I put that inside. As you know, my songs are always social commentaries knowing that who is in charge.”
Big Lice was also asked if he thought he stood a chance at making it to the Finals with all the controversial and deep issues he normally takes to the stage, to which he responded in the positive.
“Of course, my chances are what I present to the people. As I told you, like tonight, we talked about judges and we don’t know who is judging; so tonight is going to be like my finals because I think I owe it to the people to be their voice. So, because I think my area of expertise is in politics, in politics in political science, I think it is incumbent on me to speak to issues that are plaguing our society.
“People may say that every year you are coming with the same thing, but they should give me credit if I am stuck to sing on the same thing every year, because there is always going to be issues and it is not only this administration. Back then I sang against the former administration.”
The veteran is of the view that it is the duty of a calypsonian to tell it as it is in the form of social commentary?
“I believe that we owe it to the people! Because, you see, there are some people who are down trodden and cannot speak or don’t have a voice, and we have a voice because we have a microphone, we have the audience listening and we can produce songs. And I believe that it is important for us to come and talk it as it is, ask questions and so forth.
“If somebody comes and sings praises it is also their duty to do that, and that is their opinion. But I am saying we have a duty to represent the issues and the people and to ask hard questions, because I personally believe sometimes that the Leader, Denzil Douglas, I have been singing about him for a while because he has been in power for a while. And if Denzil is not the Leader I am not going to sing anything about him, I am going to sing about who comes in, so Timothy would have to answer to me. But the point is, I’ll surely go to his home, listen and say, ‘Well, you know what, this might be so and that might be so.’ And they will have some retrospect and say, ‘Well I can do things a little better because I listen to the calypsonians.’”
Asked about the issue of freedom of the press in St. Kitts and Nevis, Big Lice was high in praise of the Government.
“That is a good thing! I find that with the freedom of the press we have had some leeway in the last 10, 15, 20 years where we are allowed to express ourselves in calypso, in what we have to say even on radio. It’s good for democracy as far as I am concerned, but people should be allowed to say what they have to say and so I am grateful as a calypsonian that they allow us to do that.”
Last night Big Lice placed seventh with 417 points and earned himself a spot in the Finals, where he would go up against seven other calypsonians, including reigning Monarch Richie Buntin on Monday (Dec. 29).
