Two media houses aligned to the ruling Antigua Barbuda Labour Party have taken different approaches to Queen Ivena’s controversial calypso, Nastiness.
The Antigua Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS) General Manager Erna-Mae Braithwaite says no ban has been placed on the song which is at the center of a lawsuit by Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
But for ZDK Liberty Radio, the song won’t be played on its airways according to sources there.
The controversial song made it into the Calypso semifinals after Queen Ivena performed it during Saturday’s night quarterfinals.
On the national level, Culture Minister Paul Chet Greene says the song will not be banned.
He says, “we have not banned any song/songs, and we will not ban any song/songs if any song rises to the level of a legal challenge, let that be determined.”
According to Greene, the instructions have been given to festival commission lawyers in regards to artists and legal conflict.
The minister says while the song won’t be banned the festival commission will be asking for indemnity.
“Our in-house lawyer Ryan Johnson was instructed to work this thing through to ensure any legal actions taken against any of the artists…that the festivals commission as the entity through which the lyrics are being promoted by way of competition….that we are in no way joining any legal action or lawsuit.”
The ministers also highlight that the controversy has been brought interest to this year’s carnival activity.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has warned media houses that broadcast the song that they will be sued.
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