SENATOR LYNETTE EASTMOND yesterday expressed concern about what she called "elitist" comments made about calypsonians who had produced their songs on computers at home.

Speaking during debate to move the passing of a resolution to take note of the Draft E-Government Strategy in the Upper House, she said she was surprised at these comments.

"I was most surprised to find that within the context of the Crop-Over season that there are individuals who actually expressed a concern at individuals who are producing music in their kitchens and their bedrooms and that all of a sudden everybody feels he is a producer. In terms of developing a culture of science and technology, there is nothing elitist about it," she stated.

The Minister of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development said that if Barbados was serious about developing a culture of science and technology, it meant that the entire population had to have access to the technology.

"So that when you hear elitist comments that every fella now feels he can make a record, I am concerned about that because it means that we don't understand that ordinary members of the public are meant to be able to participate in the more sophisticated levels of technology that there are, or even unsophisticated ones."

She asked the question: "How many songs do you think are made in the United States on a daily basis if we make 600 in a season?"

Eastmond said that there were a number of songs made in the US which never make it on the charts, but help to sustain the industry by keeping people employed.

"And the same thing happens with films. The film industry is supported by a lot of B-rate movies – films that people say flop – but it keeps all of the hair people, all the make-up people, all the extras, lighting and stage people employed. You need a number of critical mass to create an industry."

She further submitted that if people continued to be elitist about science and technology, Barbados was not going to make much progress.

"We have to focus on being able to do the research and play around with the technology. They have to be able to supply our entrepreneurs with activities and ideas that they can commercialise and take to the market.

She further warned: "If we are going to be elitist about it, it will not happen because you never know where your next entrepreneur that can make $1 million will come from. They are not necessarily well educated, they are not necessarily from any particular strata of the society, not necessarily from any particular corner of Barbados. They can come from anywhere." (MB)