Me, Peter Boyce Voice attended the NIFCA Finals last Monday night at the Frank Collymore Hall. You really must commend the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) on the excellent job they are doing regarding the production of the NIFCA events which in turn provide a competitive enviorment that also serves to nurture and identify new talent in all areas.

If government would only stick to their developmental mandate instead of attempting commercialization we would all be better off. Madd also entered NIFCA when we were looking for exposure back in the early eighties and it served to give us the opportunity to go on to bigger things like where we are now.

Let’s focus on highlights of the quality production which was presented on Monday 5th November. Performers who were outstanding included Debra-Ann Clarke and her son who did a touching rendition of “Walk with Mama”. Comedian/Teacher Carl Padmore performed some effective rhythm poetry entitled “Belly Full”. Combermere Violin Strings also impressed especially with their “plink plank plunk” song and they created some unique sound effects I did’nt know violins could do.

My Pampalam partner Yolanda Holder put down a tight dramatic performance entitled “guard your virginity”. Mime actor Andre Belle was also good and the Coleridge and Parry School choir was outstanding with their charismatic conductor. I know that when you think of culture people sometimes think it will be humdrum and boring but you should go out and check the performances happening in the NIFCA events, you will be pleasantly surprised. I know I was.

Coming Soon; Nifca; The Badd

One of the positive things about the confusing reshuffle of the administration of Crop Over is that, the clown was removed. I am almost sad about it now what the hell will the entertainment industry do now for entertainment?
As entertainers our selves it was good that there was this personality that provided us with laughs with their utterances and guffaws.

I would admit that there were sometimes when the clown dropped some “bombs” that were not funny and seemed more directed too “mash up” the industry than any thing else, but in the final conclusion we would always sit back and laugh heartily at a comedic conclusion.

The thing is, so much time has elapsed since the clown was there that you reached certain equilibrium with it, its jokes became predictable and you knew the laughs to expect.

So while we toast the removing of the clown we must be careful that a terminator is not replaced in its stead,
While it might be entertaining to have a clown who thinks he is a terminator and fails miserably.
We might find our selves with a terminator who terminates so effectively that in time to come we will sit back laugh and fondly remember, The clown. LOL

Want to know how I spent my last weekend? Attending a Creative Writers Workshop at the University of the West Indies. Want to know who put on the Workshop? The National Cultural Foundation, aka the NCF… Wanta know why I attended the workshop? So I can improve my writing and more effectively curse the same NCF.

I would therefore like to thank the NCF for sponsoring the work shop which is a part of the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts aka NIFCA. The title of the workshop was a “Voice in My Head” Like Edwin’s song, and it definitely did put a voice in my head.

The Voice was that of Sonia Williams, who is quite a prolific and accomplished theatre person. She writes, produces directs and acts, and was also a good presenter as well. She was very effective in her teaching technique. We studied a piece from the famous Caribbean play “Moon on a Rainbow Shawl” by Errol John. I got to read a part as a “Yankee” in the play which seemed to bring much laughter to the persons present. I assumed it was because I am so damn talented and not because of how I was reading.
I learnt about the use of dramatic language and about episodic or cause effect in writing and how the two can be combined. If you don’t know what that means you need to attend the next work shop, you should not miss out on an opportunity to sharpen your skills. The coordinator of the event was NCF Literary arts officer DeCarla Applewhaite.

I want to thank the NCF for putting on said workshop and allowing me to attend; I will now be able to curse them more effectively and in a more creative and dramatic fashion. I can hardly wait!

Two statements appeared in the media recently, one from Richard Stoute who has been running his teen talent show in Barbados for over thirty years, and another from the Government rep. Curtis Gibbons who is the national coordinator of the community independence celebrations. These two statements are an excellent example of the competitive conflict and self interest that reflects the true policy of the proposed Festival Events Bureau government is setting up.

Recently Richard Stoute made a statement that after thirty one years of having his Teen Talent contest he is still unable to acquire major corporate sponsorship and must go “cap in hand” attempting to do so and being turned down regardless of his tactics.
The Government also made a seperate statement stating that they are not happy with the level of sponsorship that they have been getting for the independence celebrations and they are appealing to corporate Barbados to inject more money into their event.

So here we have it where Government - the body that is supposed to be the facilitating cultural entrepreneurs like Richard Stoute by not only injecting funding into his show but by encouraging corporate Barbados to support Richard - is instead putting itself against Richard and “begging” for the same limited funds that should be going to him.

One of the major stated objectives of the Festival Events is to pursue and secure corporate sponsorship.
This obvious and blatant conflict is one of the issues that I raised when UAB and BATMAN met with the Prime Minister discussing the flawed policies of this Bureau back on 12th July 2006. That was one of the reasons I was removed from the committee which is now being convened to explore this same FEB.

How can you claim to be developing an industry when you are coming into the same industry and competing against the participants? The teen talent scenario is a good example. Government needs to get behind Richard and support his teen talent with financial grants and concessions not put itself in a position where it can be deemed that it is the Government Versus Richard Stoute!

I have come to the conclusion that I am must be one of the biggest liars in Barbados and probably the world, I could work at the NCF then.

Recently I have been going around telling lies not only on the Government but on our honorable Prime Minister and Minister of Culture Mr Owen Arthur. Allow me to elaborate….

Remember the infamous government consultation with the entertainment industry that we had on the 21st August 2007. I recall our Minister of Culture Mr Owen Arthur stating that in response to queries raised about his “Festival Events Bureau” by persons at that meeting, the formation of this entity would be delayed for three months, in order to convene a committee including entertainers to examine the possible effects of its operation on the industry.

Since then you know what has happened? Nothing! And 3 months almost gone. It is like the consultation never happened and the statements were never made. I cannot imagine that our Honorable Prime Minister would stand in front big people and prevaricate with empty words and hollow promises. The Prime Minister cannot lie as Honorable is part of his title, and honorable men can only do honorable things.

So therefore I have come to the conclusion that the liar would have to be me, who is telling lies on our Honorable Prime Minister. I am such a liar then, I need to be rebuked!

One of these days I want to be honorable like our Prime Minister, instead of who I am now.

Peter the Liar….

People are surprised some times when they are in my company in public with the regularity that members of the public call me Mr. Boyce…

I don’t think Edwin is called Mr. Yearwood or Lil Rick is called Mr. Reid as often as I am referred to as Mr. Boyce. When I first started out I was called mostly by the popular character I play “Ali Singh”. Then as time progressed I became known for being involved (some people say instigating but they are liars) in controversial issues. People started calling me Peter Boyce, trouble 3 and like I said before Madd ass Bitch. I was also called “Batman” for a number of years when I was the president of that organization. I liked the Batman name as it made me sound like a super hero.

What resulted in the “Mr. Boyce” being used on a regular basis was what happened in the controversy of 2002. The Madd vs Gymnasium Ltd case over the cost of their VIP section dominated Crop Over ‘02. So much so that the Prime Minister Owen Arthur went on Voice of Barbados’ radio call in show Tell it Like it is to speak to the nation on the issue. When the Prime Minister spoke of me it was not really in glowing terms but throughout the course of his radio submission he referred to me as “Mr. Boyce”.

From the next day it appeared that the general opinion is that if you are important enough that Prime Minster could calls you “Mr. Boyce” well Mr. Boyce it is then. From then on I found that the “Mr. Boyce” title stuck,coupled with the fact that when I am highlighted in the news it is by my last name.

So then “Boyce” became like another one of my alter egos. I much prefer when people call me Peter, Mr. Boyce makes me sound old. The latest name I am now called is Boyce Voice, from people like you who read the blog. The truth of the matter is I am known by so many names that sometimes I don’t know who the heck I am!

*I would like to give you the list of names I hear I am called by government and NCF behind closed doors, but then I would have to rate this article X. I’ll give you one of them though: Since 2004 I was known as “the C—t who F—ked up Crop Over”. Is that funny or what? No wonder they are called clowns.

Got a call from the Nation newspaper inviting me to contribute an article for their Barbados Business Authority. You know that is like the financial business edition of the Nation news so I was quite thrilled.

A young lady with the eatable name of Carmel invited me to write on the topic “Should Government Step out of Crop Over Entirely”. Well I am well versed on that issue so I readily said yes. Wrote my first draft and submitted it and some edits were done and the article passed back to me.

Out were my mentions of “puking” and utterances of “rats ass “and my suggested title “Festival Events Bureau My Ass!” was deleted. Also apparently calling some one a “nasty stinking liar” is frowned on in the Business Authority. I was quite disgusted, how ever with a little help from my assistant Keisha, I managed to put something together.

Despite the fact it does not come up to the usual Boyce voice standard I am posting article here for your perusal, insert any colourful language you might deem necessary…

(more…)

It took me a while to get over the news; I was overcome with grief and felt my self falling into a great abyss of despair when the impact of the announcement hit me.

Corporate communications officer Penny Gomez is leaving the National Cultural Foundation (NCF)! I took the news like a “horn” I cried like a baby for the whole day, I could not believe Penny was going. You know that is the end of me going to government meetings. When I attend those long arduous sessions during Crop Over, the only thing which kept me going was the sight of Penny. Some times I would be at NCF meetings and lies and allegations would be flying all over the place and I would just feel like getting up and busing. Then Penny would look at me and smile and it would be like, what’s a nasty lie that I can’t take.

Penny leaving NCF is a matter that should concern United Artistes and Batman. The industry needs to stand unified on this point and send a letter to the Prime Minister. I for one, am willing to go down to the NCF and chain my self to her car so she cannot leave. (some body would have to hide her keys first though)

The question is why does every one keep leaving NCF? Addington Forde left, Wayne Simmons left, and now pretty Penny. When will it stop? Are they leaving or are they being pushed? What deep dark bald headed secrets does the NCF hold that keeps repelling people away? But Penny leaving got me good, I can’t eat, I can’t sleep I now seeing a grief counselor.

Penny if you read this:

You are more than a penny to me,
You are more like a dollar,
and a U.S dollar too,
Not no Guyanese one

On that romantic note I close
Oh how I will miss Penny!

I was overwhelmed with the validity of the comments in response to this Festival Events Bureau article seen in the Barbados Underground Blog! The Commentators hit the nail right on the head! It is refreshing to know that there are people out there who the “Minister of Culture” cannot fool into believing that the Festival Events Bureau is for the sake of cultural industries.

Click here to read the Boyce Voice contribution as part of the comments.