Who the ass does Paul Clarke think he is? I usually desist from cursing fellow entertainers but in Clarke’s case I must make an exception.When I think of Clarke I remember Gilbert Rowe’s statement made many years ago about entertainers having “delusions of grandeur”
Mr Boyce “Why would you be speaking of your Facebook friend Clarke in such an acerbic and contemptuous manner?” You might ask, allow me to expand…

Paul Clarke was one of the originators and owner of an event which is known as the Ragga Soca competition.
Paul had invested his money and staged several Ragga Soca competitions some years ago.
You are thinking, but that’s all laudable stuff Boyce why would you curse a man over that?

Here’s why….
Recently the National Cultural Foundation announced they were staging a Ragga Soca competition, least that’s why they called it at first.
Mr Paul Clarke had the audacity to approach NCF and inform them that he was actually the legal owner of the name “Ragga Soca” registered at Corporate Affairs and NCF was infringing on his rights.
He seemed to think that the NCF would have recognised his investment and contribution and would have paid some kind of compensation to utilize the name he registered.
He seemed to think that taking his “Ragga Soca” event experience into consideration NCF might have had him as a consultant.
Paul Clarke obviously mistook himself for a Trinidadian, he forgot he was a Bajan and therefore would not be eligible to any consultant status, compensation to use his event name or even recognition.
What the NCF did do is circumvent Clarke by changing the name of competition to “Sweet Soca” competition therefore stripping the Barbadian entrepreneur of his rights or any claim to the competition.
Serves Paul Clarke right, who the ass does he think he is any way? freaking idiot, Happy Birthday Paul Clarke from Boyce Voice..

P.S: N C F stands for “No Clarke Funding”

Zahra said she was going to lick me down if I didn’t post this below info! and it didn’t sound like the good lick either, it sounded like the lick down that leads to concussion and hospitalised.

So let’s talk about Barbados 246, you are probably wondering why does Boyce want to talk about the area code, is he sponsored by Lime?

 You are freaking wrong, Barbados 246 is the name of a brand new entertainment collaboration consisting of Pyramid Entertainment & Krosfyah Venrures.

You can read about it below,I just want to put in my two cents worth to say its a promising sign when two of the island’s most powerful entertainment entities can join forces for the worthwhile objectives they have set.

If you doubt what soldarity of entertainers can do stop and remember 2004 when the Concerned Entertainment group brought Crop Over to its knees with the withholding music strategy.

Not that I am saying this collaboration has those objectives that’s me fantasising.

Well I will shut up and let you read before Zahra licks me down, thats the end of my two cents..

“Barbados 246” is the name given to a Joint Venture among some of Barbados’ leading entertainers -

Edwin Yearwood, Khiomal, Adrian Dutchin, Lil’ Rick, Peter Ram, Biggie Irie and Mr. Dale.

“Barbados 246” is a musical production which will showcase the past and present repertoire of the

artistes as well as the diverse talents of the island’s leading entertainers.

“Barbados 246” is a cultural business initiative designed to promote the brand Barbados locally,

regionally and internationally.

Partners

1. Krosfyah Ventures Inc. which represents the Krosfyah band, Edwin Yearwood, Khiomal, Adrian

Dutchin.

2. Pyramid Entertainment Management Inc. which represents Lil Rick, Peter Ram, Biggie Irie and Mr.

Dale.

• All artistes will perform with the Krosfyah band.

• Guest acts will be added to the lineup depending on the nature of each show’s production.

Barbados 246 Objectives

• To create a music production featuring the best of Barbadian artistes that will be promoted locally,

regionally and internationally.

• To assist in the marketing of Barbadian brands of services and products including those outside the

entertainment industry through the use of the name of the country and the area code 246.

• To create an outstanding Barbadian show of the highest standard to form a viable touring package

for festivals, concerts and other performance venues worldwide.

Key Components of the Show

• A professionally produced show featuring the best of Barbadian talent

• The past and present repertoire of the artistes will be featured thereby augmenting the traditional

format of Crop Over presentations

• Each show will be fully rehearsed and include choreographed dancers and special effects.

• Each show will have a separate and distinct theme setting it apart from all the others.

• All artistes and members of the backing band will wear appropriately themed clothing for each event and will incorporate the Barbados 246 branding into the visual presentation.

As a Barbadian, I am ashamed and appalled at the actions of the Royal Barbados Police Force as it relates to the imprisonment and subsequent charging of reporters Cherie Pitt and Jimmy Gittens for attempting to execute their journalistic duties yesterday.

It sickens my ass when I see officers who are supposed to be charged with the fiduciary responsibility of upholding the law taking that same authority and using it against citizens who are going about their law abiding duties.

It sickens my ass when I see when I look in today’s newspaper and see a picture of a big burly male Police Officer shoving female reporter Cherie Pitt for attempting to take a picture of a man that has been accused for being a drug dealer.
What message is being sent by the Police who are supposed to be protecting our women from domestic violence?
Is the legal authority of the Royal Barbados Police Force to be used to protect officers accused of drug activity?

I am appalled that the Police should behave in such a disgusting and disreputable manner and then have the audacity to charge Jimmy and Cherie for obstructing justice. It should be the police who should be charged for obstructing the journalists and assaulting Cherie Pitt.
 
It sickens me when I read of the limp and historically proven impotent words of Police Commissioner Darwin Dottin promising a full investigation into the matter.

The question is who guards the guards?
This incident more than ever provides an example of the need to have an external authority to investigate and have the power to take action against Police officers who abuse their legal authority.

The action of the Police force in this matter reeks of the Gestapo tactics which takes place in Zimbabwe and other oppressive dictatorships around the world.
It is our duty as right thinking Barbadians to pay attention and speak out against this blatant example of the Police making a mockery of justice in a most sickening and contemptuous way.

It is a proven fact that oppression of a society usually starts with intimidation of the press then it’s only a matter of time before they come for you…

I leave you with this famous quote…

“In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.”

Congratulations are in order of the organizers of the recently concluded successful St Philip carnival! If I wore a hat I would take it off to them but I don’t.
The successful and efficient organizing of this event by the St Philip Committee s not an activity that should go unnoticed by the powers that be.

Often the question is asked when will the staging of Crop Over be able to be placed into the hands of the private sector.
 Government needs to take its place as a facilitator empowering the entrepreneur to thrive and reach their full potential.

What entities in the private sector have the capability to efficiently coordinate the multiplicity of mammoth tasks and events which constitute our national festival?
The St Philip Carnival Committee is an example of the answer to the question.

 Chances are if you can organize a carnival parade successfully in St Philip you should be able to do the same only on a bigger scale in St Michael where Kadooment takes place.

Efforts should made by Government to nurture and groom this St Philip committee who are obviously pregnant with potential to be a major event coordinator player in our Crop Over.

congrats to the St Philip Group on not depending on the government but getting up off their asses and not only staging their own event but doing it successfully!

Boyce is leaving the computer……

President Obama and first family

Some years ago I remember being on a plane coming back from the States and watching a movie about a black man becoming President of the United States.
The name of the movie if my memory serves me correctly was “The man” it starred either James Earl Jones or Paul Winfield.
I searched and googled assiduously to find the movie so I can present it to you to illustrate my point but to no avail. I am convinced because of its subject matter there has been a strategic and deliberate effort to remove it from the records.

The plot of “The Man” was what happened when the President of the United States was shot and the vice who was black became the President.
Notice I said that the black man started out by being vice, not even in fiction it was not fathomable that a black man could be elected to be President of the United States.

As of this morning that has changed, from today the 5th of November 2008 the unthinkable, and perceived impossible has occurred, fiction has become fact and Barack Obama has become the 44th President of the United States of America.

What does this mean to black people in United Sates and throughout the world? I got a call from my friend Ian who said that blacks would now be getting better roles in movies. Will the incidents of Police officers shooting blacks unfairly in the U.S cease? Will Michael Jackson change back his skin colour?

Speculation on the future should not detract from the historical significance of this moment.
Let us rejoice that fact has become fiction and we now have a black President of the United States of America.
Barack Obama is now “The Man” !

* Since I wrote above post my friend Jdid in his comment identified that “The Man” was a 1972 movie starring James Earl Jones, some people would think that it was a display of igrunce I could not find the movie  while Jdid did, I know the truth is the FBI read my post and put back the movie info where it could be found, its a conspiracy, heres the poster to the movie… and in it Jones was secretary of state not Vice President…  

Sarah Palin with producer on Saturday Night Live

I told you so and you thought I was clown, who’s the clown now?
On Boyce Voice back in January I wrote on the ability of local entertainers to influence politics and you laughed. You threw your head back and laughed like a facking idiot and said Boyce is such a clown then…..
Now you are laughing the other side of your face (the igrunt side) with reported news of the roles comedy and talk shows are playing in the presidential campaign now on in the United States of America.

A massive 69 million Americans tuned in to Saturday Night Live (SNL) to see comedienne Tina Frey meet the real McCain running mate Sarah Palin.
For months now Frey has been lampooning Palin on the hit show SNL so much so that people are now saying that when Palin speaks they see her as imitating Frey.
That means that comedienne Tina is now more seen as Palin than Palin her self…! You probably will have to pause and figure that one out.

Can you guess who is the real Sarah Pailin?

All the leading politicians Obama, McCain and of course  Pailin it is now a must that you appear on Letterman show or Ellen or SNL to let America see how human you are and how you can make people laugh. If you want to be the most powerful man in the world and make decisions on where to drop bombs and start wars, it helps if you can also tell a joke.

McCain made the mistake of standing up Letterman late night show some weeks ago and regretted it dearly.
Letterman took a turn in his ass cracking jokes on him; see where he is in the polls now?? Yuh idiot.
So much that McCain realized his mistake and hired a helicopter to make sure he got to Letterman’s show on time the second time around.
So in January when Boyce spoke of the Lil Rick factor playing a role in the changing of the government along with other entertainment factors and you thought I was an idiot, you should now see me for what I really am….. A visionary who once wearing his contact lens can see clearly.

click to read rick post here;  http://www.boycevoice.com/blog/2008/01/18/entertainment-and-politics-the-lil-rick-factor/
Note to America; you have got to be careful when you make decisions on who will be president based on how they well they make you laugh…. Look at George Bush for example…. Need I say more…..?

For your comedic edification I am posting the Tina Frey meets the Sarah Palin link, Click below

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdDqSvJ6aHc

This was quite a loquacious post, maybe I should run in politics too

Local politics just got more entertaining….

With the news that entertainment lawyer and artiste manager Santia Bradshaw is now taking entering the political arena. Santia will be running to represent the Barbados Labour Party in the St Michael South East constituency aka “The Pine”.
The same way you know about Obama and McCain you should know that Hamilton Lashley resigned from the BLP to become an independent and so Santia is looking to take over that position.
Ms Bradshaw aka Santia has been involved in entertainment for some years now, her company Pyramid Entertainment manages Peter Ram, Lil Rick, Mr Dale Philip 7 and numerous other artistes that if you are a regular reader to Boyce Voice you should know.
Santia is also well versed in copyright and intellectual property being a well studied British trained lawyer.
She has used her legal knowledge on behalf of the industry to help bridge the perennial gap which seems to exist between local artistes and the National Cultural Foundation.

Santia’s father Delisle Bradshaw was also in politics which according to political pundits gives her an advantage, it will be most interesting what Santia Bradshaw brings to the political table with her in-depth entertainment background and the perspective which will be presented as it relates to the industry.

In an attempt to prove that I am not intellectually challenged let’s deal with a topic with some political intrigue.

So today instead of Boyce Voice we will be “Boyce Underground”, that’s a totally original name I just came up with.

Have you been hearing about the scenario where the opposition leader Basdeo Panday was banned from the Trinidad sitting of parliament for using a laptop computer while parliament was in session.

I have never heard such igrunce yet; imagine banning a minister from official business for looking using a computer.
As a man who is addicted to using technology myself that is bare c***!
You know how much time I spend at meetings looking in black berries, palms and computers engaged in activity related to the same meeting. 

The speaker of that house needs to be informed we now live in a technologically advanced world
where instead of writing things on paper people now use computers; panday could easily have been preparing his speech for later presentation. 

What you are reading now was written using my black berry, I hardly ever write and the few times I have people tell me my handwriting is atrocious. So I have learnt to use the technology so people understand what I am trying to say.

Enough about you Peter, back to Panday, now they are saying in order for him to enter parliament and participate in the up coming national budget debate, he must apologisé for using the computer, that’s another bunch of c***.

Panday is being forced to apologisé for being technologically advanced. I know Panday is not no sweet bread, but in this case we should see his position.

You would think in a country like Trinidad where the crime rate is so high that members of parliament would have much more to occupy their time than stopping an old guy from using a computer.
*Crap

MACHEL MONTANO CONQUORS CROP OVER
Lil Jon, Pitbull, TOK in Tow
FOX FOTOS: Machel Montano with surprise guests Lil Jon and Pitbull
headline Cohobblopot in Bridgetown, Barbados on August 3, 2008.

“NEW YORK, NY (RHONA FOX, INC.)- Soca superstar Machel Montano brought the excitement and thus the masses to the annual Crop Over celebrations in Barbados, last week. First with the bMobile EnVy concert on July 26, followed by the Brian Lara All-Inclusive Fete on August 2, then performing to a sold-out crowd at Cohobblopot on August 3, and finally hitting the street parade for Grand Kadooment on August 4, Montano was the face of Crop Over this year.”
 
As entertainers and Barbadians, we should note with concern the above international media report.I have been hearing local cultural administrators patting them selves on the back on a successful Cohobblopot and I have been seeing your comments as to how “ram” the show was. Let’s examine its success more closely shall we?
The National Cultural Foundation has a mandate to develop the Barbadian entertainment industry, I believe that’s what “National” means. To re enforce concepts that are suppose to help us define our bajan identity and highlight things that are Bajan. Cohobblopot 2008 failed miserably in that regard. As evidenced by the above excerpt NCF produced a show where bajan acts were relegated to second bananas “begging for a blight”, while Machel was paid the biggest fee and given the most performance time (2 hours) and the highest production budget. Our own Lil Rick had his stage time reduced to “five stinking minutes” as he described it. Other bajan acts had their time reduced which would have diminished their impact. Rupee’s set was interrupted several times to facilitate drawing the car.
There was not enough room in the budget for Bajan Alison Hinds or Mr Dale but enough for an American rapper.
 Cohobblopot 2008 deviated so far from highlighting Barbadiana it was not funny, Bajans were on it but merely as supporting acts. While NCF achieved the objective of cohobblopot being a financial success, it was a cultural failure.  In the opening review of the event they are not saying that Krosfyah, Lil Rick Asiba or RPB dominated the show, they say it was conquered by the Trinis’s and Americans. Instead of 100% bajan music being featured on radio stations as with previous Crop Overs, our national festival airplay time was now diluted with Trini music.

It is not unknown that a Cohobblopot featuring 100% local acts would work, in the 1990’s the event was given to a private promoter and with only local entertainment being featured attendence went to over 25,000 patrons.
Any commercial promoter could have put on a show featuring every foreign Tom Dick Machel and Jon and generated money, the National Cultural Foundation had a further cultural responsibility which they needed to adhere to.    

Here’s one of the burning issues you want me to deal with, Euphoria 2008.             

Regardless of the financial results of the event, its existence is essential to challenging the commercial government strong hold which continues to be maintained on Crop Over the night before kadooment.               
Let’s look at some of Euphoria’s achievements, because of this event there were many Bajan acts included on Cohobblopot that would have been left off.     
The last minute inclusion of 2008 Pic o de Crop monarch Adrian Clarke is an example of this. It was only after Euphoria added him to our line up and started promoting this, did cohobblopot follow suit. It had become the norm for several years that the Pic o De Crop monarch was no longer included in the cohobblopot event.          
The fact that Euphoria was able to overcome the obstacles speaks to the fact that entrepreneurial involvement is being allowed in the festival.                       
Stated government policy supports efforts like euphoria, but certain key individuals are deviating from the policy for their own ends. (If you have a key in your pocket maybe its you)                      
Euphoria offered an opportunity that artistes who were not included on Cohobblopot could still work, it also offered a competitive alternative in terms of ticket prices. If not for the technical challenges, we would have achieved our objective entertainment wise and not have lost out on the flow of patrons who had started to enter the venue.                                    
We want to thank the Prime Minister for endorsing Euphoria publicly and his assistance and Senator Irene Sandiford Garner for attending the event.                             
Euphoria’s misfortune was daring to challenge a government statutory entity which was willing spare no expense of tax payers money to crush a private sector effort.                     
Euphoria’s fortune is that there is still a government intent to truly assist, develop and involve the entrepreneur in Crop Over.

Euphoria Inc would also like to thank our sponsors Starcom Network, Eqity Insurance and major sponsor The Plantation Garden Theatre, with out them and others who assisted and gave advice behind the scenes, the event would not have been possible.

Coming up:Cohobblopot Analysis