NATION NEWS
Bag tribute still a riddle
Published on: 7/3/08.

SEVEN of the 13 calypso tents in this year's Pic-O-De-Crop competition are voicing concern about the decision of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) to pay tribute to defending calypso monarch Red Plastic Bag (RPB) at the opening gala on Saturday in Queen's Park.

Ridley Greene, spokesperson for a grouping of tents under The Alliance, said some calypsonians felt disadvantaged by what they saw as a promotional bias for RPB who was still in competition with them.

The challenge for Alliance tent managers, Greene added, was assuring worried calypsonians they suffered no such disadvantage.

"We wished that the NCF had put its idea to The Alliance for consideration before it was broadcast to the world. We are sure the NCF and The Alliance – along with the Barbados Association of Tent Managers – would have agreed on an equally effective – and much less contentious – way of bestowing on RPB the honour he is so deservingly entitled to," Greene stated.

However, he stressed that The Alliance had "the greatest respect" for RPB and lauded the eight-time calypso monarch for his many achievements.

Veteran calypsonian, Serenader said he appreciated why RPB was receiving the tribute, "but I believe you have to choose the right time to do these things. It should not be in the heart of the competition," he said.

The airwaves were as hot as RPB's hit Volcano Tuesday, as debate raged on the issue on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) radio programme Festival Stage that was broadcast live on 94.7 FM at the Party Stand, Harbour Road, St Michael.

Host Anthony Admiral Nelson gave stakeholders and members of the public their chance to air their opinions on the issue.

"I have no problem with the NCF honouring calypsonians. I think it is a good idea, but what they need to do is look at the contribution from older calypsonians first.

"I don't think that anybody . . . should be honoured when they are actually in the competition. I mean they have a lot of calypsonians that did a lot of stuff before RPB. So the NCF should be looking at them first," said one caller.

Another queried why a tribute was not paid to the late Winston Jordan for his many years of festival contribution.

Promoter Mark Williams said he was concerned because "it should have never been debated, whether they were for it or not. The fact remains that if the NCF says a tribute is supposed to be paid to RPB, it has nothing to do with if he has a title. It has something to do with his contribution".

The DAILY NATION was still unable to reach RPB for his response. (TM)