“There is no money in the Treasury and so many are owed its who reach first get something” King Socrates
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 26, 2010 (PAM Secretariat Press Release) - The contract that the National Carnival Committee signed with calypso performers including bands that performed for the calypso shows stipulated that all outstanding debts would be settled by the end of January 2010. In July 2010, seven months later, reigning Calypso Monarch Sylvester “King Socrates” Hodge is still waiting for $15,000.00 for his Legends Band.
The bands which played in the final show were the Legends Band and Grandmasters. In early June the manager of Grandmasters finally collected a cheque for 10, 000 and was promised that the remaining 15, 000 would be paid before the end of June. It is now nearing the end of July but no money has been forthcoming.
According to King Socrates there are several problems with the way in which government officials have handled this issue. In an interview with this newspaper he outlined his frustration with the months long saga.
“What happened is that they changed horses in the middle of the stream and now the person in charge does not know what to do” King Socrates explained.
He was referring to the official decision to remove responsibility for carnival from the National Carnival Committee headed by Mr. Alastair Williams to the Ministry of Culture where it is under the purview of the permanent secretary Ms. Sharon Rattan.
“They should have allowed Mr. Williams to finish what he started with 2009 – 10 carnival and effect the change for the upcoming carnival 2010 – 11” opined the calypso veteran. Instead, they made the change in the middle of the process and that upset everything.
King Socrates only collected the money due to him in late May, five months after the deadline and after hearing excuses about how empty the treasury is. “What’s that got to do with me” he asked. “I have people to pay and I cannot tell them that!”
In fact, as everyone knows by now, the government is really struggling finding money for anything beyond civil service salaries and emoluments and even that is a challenge. So many people are owed so that debts are prioritized and who gets to the Treasury first get something.
One example of the seriousness of the situation is the treatment of Junior Calypsonian the Mighty Shani. According to King Socrates “Lord Kut is walking around town showing his son’s cheque to people. On Wednesday 21st his son took his cheque to National Bank and the cheque bounced!” The frustrated calypsonian asked “how can calypso be developed if young performers cannot be paid?”
The situation is so dire that the government is reportedly taking money that has been donated for the 2010 – 11 carnival and paying 2009 – 10 debts. It is easy to begin to wonder what kind of festival the country will have this year.
