The Calypso Fever is spreading rapidly as we gear up for Antigua’s Carnival Calypso Tent season.
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries in collaboration with the Calypso Sub-Committee is pleased to announce the opening of the Calypso Tent season commencing from June 2nd 2023.
Creative Industries is officially partnering with two (2) Carnival Tents for the 2023 Carnival Season:-
The Mason Brothers commence on Friday, June 2nd Sweet Benna Soca on Saturday, June 3rd
Both will be operated out of Julees on Cross and Tanner Street.
Meanwhile, Calypsonians desirous of participating in this year’s Calypso Monarch competition are required to register with the Ministry and MUST register with one of the official Carnival Tents for eligibility to participate in Calypso Quarter and Semifinals. This year’s Tent season will operate for four (4) weekends, with each weekend being Adjudicated. This will give the Calypsonians four (4) opportunities to be (4) Adjudicated with their best two (2) scores used to qualify for the Semifinals. Therefore, aspiring competitors should note that it is mandatory to commence performance from the first weekend of June 2nd and 3rd in order to comply with the pre-requisite Judging process.
The Ministry is urging Calypsonians to prepare to bring the bacchanal, commentary, politics and vibes to the ‘Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival’. For registration for the Tents with Mason Brothers, contact Oneil Mason at 7722400 or Junie for Sweet Benna at 7740416.
It’s Calypso, Kaiso and Bacchanal, the warm-up for Mas, Music and Creativity, Antigua Carnival 2023.
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I can only express my profound disappointment and disbelief regarding the blatant disregard for the welfare of musicians by The Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries
As an avid supporter of the arts and a concerned citizen, I was appalled to learn that musicians who performed at Calypso Tents last year have not received the compensation they rightfully deserve. It is inconceivable that an esteemed government organization, entrusted with the task of promoting culture and ensuring fair treatment, would stoop so low as to neglect the very people who bring life, joy, and soul to these events.
Musicians, much like any other professionals, rely on their talent and hard work to sustain their livelihoods. It is disheartening to witness their passion and dedication being repaid with silence and indifference from an organization that supposedly champions the arts. These individuals poured their hearts into contributing to the cultural fabric of our community. Yet, they have been left hanging, their efforts unrecognized and their pockets empty.
What amplifies my indignation further is the audacity of The Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries to forge ahead with planning another event this year. How can you, in good conscience, proceed with doing so while musicians from the previous event are still awaiting their compensation? It is a clear manifestation of misplaced priorities, a testament to the lack of empathy and respect that your organization seemingly holds for those it supposedly serves.
This callous behavior reflects poorly on The Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries. It undermines public trust and demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the hardworking individuals who make these events possible. By failing to fulfill your obligations to musicians, you effectively devalue their contributions and discourage future musicians from engaging with your organization.
I implore you to rectify this egregious oversight immediately. Pay the musicians what they are owed, and issue a formal apology for the distress caused. Furthermore, I urge you to conduct a thorough review of your organization’s internal processes to ensure that such negligence does not recur. It is imperative that you demonstrate a genuine commitment to supporting and compensating musicians, acknowledging their immense value and the indispensable role they play in fostering a vibrant cultural landscape.
In conclusion, the mistreatment of musicians by The Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries is not only a failure of ethics but also a blow to the vitality of our artistic community. I trust that you will take swift action to rectify this situation, restoring faith in your organization’s integrity and commitment to the arts. Only then can we hope to foster an environment that truly values and supports the creators who enrich our lives.
Yet another group of people who either haven’t been paid or still awaiting payment.
ABLP HAVE BROKEN THE BACK OF THE COUNTRY!
5 MORE YEARS OF SUFFERING TO ENDURE …
@ Wild Tambran
Antiguans like to be sodomized.
All calypsonians will join the line to perform again this year.
They are no different than the Laborites and the Gastonites.
ONE THOUGHT OR TWO
“Antigua celebrated its first carnival in August 1957. The celebration served a two-fold purpose. It was a tourist attraction and a commemoration of emancipation from slavery. …..1 August 1834 slavery was abolished. People immediately celebrated by taking to the streets to celebrate their freedom and express their joy and happiness.”
The focus of celebrating Antigua & Barbuda Carnival as “a commemoration of emancipation from slavery” has diminished.
MAYBE, unwittingly but conveniently, the middle-class authorities looked askance at it after the era of the rise and fall of the West Indies Federation (breakup); the status of association with the UK (absurdity); the rise and fall of the black power movement (bludgeoning of Rasta); the rise and fall of the Grenada Revolution (invasion); our political independence (incomplete), so that today we find ourselves celebrating only “The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival.”
There is a group of diehards, conscious, aware of the fundamental significance of our “Emancipation from slavery” who separately but doggedly hold their annual celebrations at the same time.
Recently, the British people and their “colonial subjects” celebrated joyfully the glory of the past British Empire as in the coronation of their King! They communicated it to the World! Europe is now propagating the splendor, glory, memory of their royal families!
Isn’t it time to refocus our Carnival celebration to include at all ‘levels’ our “Emancipation of slavery” as in ‘Antigua & Barbuda’s Emancipation Carnival Celebration …..The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival?’
Also, it’s time to re-energize ourselves to achieve economic, financial, mental, physical, spiritual freedom!
“A people (especially our youths) without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
Let us interact with humility, grace, good intentions!
Save our Humanity, Save our Youths. Save our Environment, Save our Soil!!!
Respect
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