Enough is Enough; Are you Dog or Poodle?
As you may be aware by now, once again controversy has reared its ugly and clownish head to mar our Crop Over Festival. United Artistes of Barbados and BATMAN tents have released a statement saying that their members will not be participating in calypso competitions until outstanding issues are addressed.
I can hear you asking the question: “Why is it that the NCF (National Cultural Foundation) and calypsonians do not get their differences sorted out long before Crop Over?” and “Why is it that every year they wait ’till our festival comes around and hold our festival to ransom?”
You are freaking Right! All outstanding matters should have been settled every since…And why you may ask has that not be R______* done? (Darron edit my R_____word) (see he did it again)
The answer to your question is contained in the picture above this article.
You see that poodle with the fancy ass shades up above? That is how government and NCF sees our entertainment industry, and that is the problem!
Starting from September 2006 correspondence was sent to NCF and copied to government outlining our concerns and meetings were held where they were discussed. In spite of our pleas to have salient points addressed, Government did nothing! As though we are like dumb poodles who you can ignore and we will continue to sing and jump bout de place. Now being seen as a dog is one thing (lil Rick is already a Hypa Dog) but being seen as a poodle I have a problem with that!
Now I am going to pretend I am Eric Lewis and write a song for you, it is entitled the “NOTHING song. When you get to the chorus part just sing “NOTHING!!” in Dekey of G.
Ok yuh ready? Lets go!!!
On 18th September 2006 a meeting was held at NCF with calypsonian Ronnie Clarke asking for a rule to be put in place that stated what would happen when there is a technical foul up while a calypsonian is performing in a competition, what did the NCF do?
Chorus; “NOTHING!!” (I said in Dekey of G)
On 23rd May 2007, a letter was sent to authorities outlining concerns of exploitive oppressive exclusive clause in their performance contract which could prevent calypsonians from performing in tents and other Crop Over events….What did the NCF do?
Chorus; “NOTHING!!” (Ok yuh now sound good)
On 15th April 2007 a letter requesting an increase for calypsonians in competitions since they pay trini’s $40’000 to perform at we shows they could at least pay we another a few more hundred dollars..What did the NCF OFFER?
Chorus; “NOTHING!!”
On 23rd May 2007 UAB sent a letter to NCF and Government out lining all the calypsonians concerns urgently requesting that they be addressed so that Crop Over will not be disrupted.What did they do?
Chorus; “NOTHING!!”
1st June 2007 UAB lawyer Veronica MacFarlane wrote a letter to NCF asking to meet to address legal concerns that artistes had with their performance contract.. What did the NCF do nothing?
Chorus; “NOTHING!!” (Yuh sounding sweet)
The NCF treat calypsonians like dogs, ignoring all of their valid concerns and thinking Crop Over will come off with out a hitch because we are conchs… What did the calypsonians do?
“NOTHING!!” OK now that is where you are wrong! Here you should change your chorus to
“SOMETHING!!”
Because we are doing “SOMETHING” about it, we are standing up for our rights! Just like you need to stand up for yours.The music is coming out and tents opening to entertain the public but Government needs to entertain the industry and their valid concerns. Government needs to stop with the lip service (or biting service), so we can get we Crop Over back on track, “Enough is Enough”!
P.S; No Dogs were hurt in the production of above picture!
If during the reading of this blog there is any thing I might have written which might have incensed or offended you, GET OVER IT! There are many things I read and hear in the media on a daily basis that I don't like either. SO DEAL WITH IT! You are welcome to leave your comments though. Make sure and come back yuh hear !!!...
June 13th, 2007 at 9:13 am
the song is ok, but perhaps the structuring of the lyrical content is too long. The writer needs to speak to the calypso pros on verse content and structure, so that he would not have so many words in an authentic calypso.
But the important point is that if you sit and do nothing all the time, s*&# will happen to you and you will always be seen as some scruffy mangy potstarver mongrel dog looking fuh scraps in de dump, when “in truth and honest fact” you really are the king/queen who rules the roost.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
let me say iam in total agreement with what ever steps my fellow brothers and siters are taking if we don’t stand for something we’ll all fall for everything so let us as artiste come together for once new and old this is for the benefit of us all you the leaders of the future soca world and we who have brought it so far together we stand united,statement
June 13th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
What happens when you put an A**HOLE in a position of power? A WHOLE BUNCHA SH?TE. That is the present problem with the NCF as it stands right now. It is suffering from a serious case of Administrative Diarrhea. And this problem is compounded by the way government & most of the igrunt general public treat entertainers & the entertainment industry; like a DOG.
Never mind culture is in daddy’s portfolio. The best way to make a dog feel good is to give him lil attention & make him feel he is the most important thing in your life, then lef he in de yard tie to a tree for de lil children (NCF) to pass de road & pelt rock at it & tease it.
But it is high time for dis dog to pop de chain & and start biting back before he choke to death.
June 13th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I hope that the artistes can come together and stand up for their obvious rights vs sucking up to the NCF for some pocket change (which is barely enough to fill someone’s tank at this stage). While I’d be saddened that it risks the standards of the Party Monarch, I’m all about people working for what they deserve. Machel was good at Party Monarch, but paying the band a fee that is double the 1st place prize + travel/accomodations in addition is one hell of a slap in the face & kick in the ass to the local artistes. I can say ass right? To all the artistes, good luck & I hope things change for the better soon.
June 14th, 2007 at 10:37 am
i love it and i agree with everthing u saying u doin a good job keep it up
July 13th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
COSIGN WITH ALL COMMENTS ABOVE. IT’S NOT ONLY THE INTERTAINERS WHO R TREATED LIKE THIS.SOME BUSINESS PPL BEHAVE THE SAME WAY TOO.I REMEMBER DURING WORLD CUP WHEN ALL O DEM BIG BUSINESSES WAS MAKING MONEY OFF THE OCCASION,ONE HELD AN EVENT THAT INCLUDED FASHION SHOW, THEY CONTACTED A DESIGNER FRIEND OF MINE TO BE A PART OF THE SHOW . WHEN HE MENTION PAYMENT THEY GOON REP ASK HIM ” WHOSE U” .SO ALTHOUGH NO AGREEMENT, THEY INCLUDED HIS NAME IN ADVERTS. AFER THEY REFUSE TO REMOVE HIS NAME.HE THEN HAD TO TAKE SOME OF HIS OWN HARD TO COME BY CASH TO PUBLICLY BRING AND END TO THEIR LIE. GOD HOW I DESPISE DEM BITCHES .WE NEED SOME AMERICAN LAWS.