Calypsonians Threaten to Boycott National Carnival… Following rumors of New Calypso Committee
By Suelika N. Buchanan
Senior Reporter - SKNVibes.com
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Queen Anastasia
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(Basseterre, St. Kitts) - Some of the top Calypsonians from St. Kitts have expressed concerns about the recent rumors of the dismissal of the Carnival Calypso sub-committee.
However, as of yesterday, Thursday Nov. 8, Lester Ible who is a member of the National Carnival Board is the new chairman of the Calypso sub-committee according to the Chairman of Carnival Gus Williams.
Williams said a meeting was held yesterday and as a result Ible was the new chairman for the committee.
“All questions should be directed to him really he will be able to answer about why he is now the chairman of the committee,” he said. “Concerning the committee members he will also choose who he wants on the committee.”
Following rumors that the committee headed by Nigel Herbert for the past three years was disbanded suddenly and replaced with a new one many Calypsonians have expressed their displeasure.
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King Socrates
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That alleged new committee is said to feature individuals who some of the Calypsonians claim were voted off by them from the judging panel for last year’s Calypso Monarch competition.
Reigning Calypso Queen, Tonicia “Anastasia” Martin told SKNVibes.com that the reason why those individuals were voted off of the judging panel was because they allegedly have personal vendettas against some of the Calypsonians.
“This situation hurts me because I love Calypso but what is happening is unfair and if those persons are going to be on the committee then I may consider not singing this year for Carnival,” she said.
She added: “Calypso goes way back to the days of slavery, it is important to our culture.”
Sylvester “King Socrates” Hodge, a former National Calypso King said he had been hearing the rumors of the committee being disbanded and a new one put into place some time now.
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Chairman of Carnival - Gus Williams
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He said that he spoke to Val Thomas a member of the Carnival committee and also Chairman of Carnival Gus Williams who told him at the time it was all just rumors.
“I am still waiting to hear an official word from the committee on whether the committee has change, I have also heard about Leroy ‘Fishy’ Percival being on the committee,” he said. “This man has threatened my life in the past and I have a serious problem with him being on the committee and based on that I will see if I will contribute to Carnival this year.”
Other Calypsonians have also shared their concerns about the possible new committee including Duncan ‘Big Lice’ Wattley who said he is very disappointed with the way things are happening.
He also agrees that there should be some sort of meeting as to inform Calypsonians of the new changes if any and to not allow the Government to manipulate them but to be more assertive.
Wattley told SKNVibes.com that it is already official that the committee has been disbanded but they as Calypsonians have not been informed of this officially and told why this has occurred.~~Adz:Right~~
“Someone told me that the Chairman of Carnival said he did not like the direction in where Calypso was going, but what is he talking about? What direction does he want Calypso to go?”
Conse “Lord Black” Edwards said in an interview on Winn FM that the people who are going to be placed on the committee may be those who would influence the judges and that Calypso is bigger than Politics.
SKNVibes.com was unable to receive a comment from Lester Ible on the matter at press time.
