I have been standing in bedazzled wonderment at the metamorphosis of the event which is known to be the climax of our Crop Over festival aka “Cohobblopot”.

It morphs and morphs and morphs, like a “Terminator” special effect.
First cultural authorities started out by saying there would be NO trini acts headlining crop over events that the government staged. 

Then they changed their position and announced that Machel Montano from Trinidad was going to be headliner.
Alright that’s one trini in the “pot” because of Caricom and all that. All right we went on.

Next I see in the media, Trinidadians Patrice Roberts and David Rudder are now being added to be all headliner acts of Cohobblopot, also I hear that Sparrow and Farmer Nappy are included some where in the mix as well.
That’s quite a change in position that started out NO TRINIS will be headlining Cohobblopot.
Next I read that negotiations are now being finalised to include the Brian Lara fete in Cohobblopot. OK then!
There is so much Trini injection into our Cohobblopot that all that is needed to complete the transformation is an appropriate name which optimizes the metamorphosis taking place. Boyce has a suggestion … “Trini-Pot”!
It’s short, to the point and captures the essence of the now diluted event, and best of all its easier to spell…

P.s or what about this one… The “Trini- Metamorphosis-pot”,  thats if you must have a long name

Where is the Controversy this Crop Over?
I am hearing that question at the Beach, at the Supermarket and at the shows…

People have been writing letters to the media asking in an almost adamant manner where is the controversy.

I am constantly being asked “Boyce wha happen? Wha I ent hearing you this year?”
It was the basis of a newspaper article just last week. In that interview I shed some light on why I had not been keeping noise and explain how I had been doing things differently. It’s almost like I have had to come up with an excuse as to why I have not been fulfilling my usual nefarious role.
The people seem vexed and annoyed. 

There are some people who are of the firm belief that in order for Crop Over to be succussfull there must be controversy, I have even heard that back in the 80’s the then NCF would strategically plan with key calypsonians creating controversial issues at key times to stimulate interest in the festival.For all the years I have been around previous NCF CEO Estwick has never called me and said “lets stir up some trouble Boyce!” I am almost hurt.

So I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere apologies this year for not stirring up any trouble.I apologise for not attacking NCF and Government nor cursing anybody’s ass.

But wait a minute….
To all you controversy lovers out there, all my fans who follow Boyce contentious issues with “Days of our lives” fanaticism, there is still hope on the horizon. Soon there is a possibility you will get your hearts desire, after all what is Crop Over without controversy.
I might soon have to withdraw my apology!

Did you see me on TV last night? Yuh Idiot! Making comments about my Visit to Llaro court to meet the Prime Minister of Barbados. I was part of the entertainment industry who met with the PM to make submissions to his drafting of the budget.
I have the official statement entered below but I will also give you a Boyce Voice exclusive behind the scenes commentary.
Lets start with my pictures….

That’s beautiful ent it? That is like the yard of Llaro Court taken from the back porch where we were sitting, don’t you wish you had a yard like that?  It looks like one of those picture post cards somebody send you from over in away. But its taken right here in Barbados the most beautiful garden you ever saw.

Speaking of beautiful here’s me and Santia, while it is true I am beautiful right now I am refering to Santia who is the head of Pyramaid Entertainment who attended the consultation.

Who was also beautiful that was there was the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Natasha King, not that I am looking but if I were, I would look for her. I apologise for not having a picture of her as I would have been holding her too and that would have been good.

Lets go into my one dissapointment of the visit, you know I can’t keep, I was so vex then.

As we were waiting we were offered drinks and i asked for powerade AND THERE WAS NONE!

Heres me after I did not get my Powerade, I almost left, I was going to ask for Bakes but I decided not to push it

Here is the Entertainment delegation Norman Barrow,President of Batman Sinclair Gittens and Michael Agard manager of Krosfyah, never go any place with Norman, he gets all the damn kisses, thats the second reason I almost left…

Heres the group again this time with Jan, why is Jan smiling like a cheshire cat? She got the drink she wanted,if I had gotten the drink I wanted I would have been happy too, but smiling like a tom cat..

 Heres the offical press release I put out:…

On Wednesday 25th June a delegation representing the entertainment industry met with the Prime Minister at Llaro Court to make recommendations as the PM prepares for his budget speech.

This delegation consisted of Norman Barrow, Santia Bradshaw, Peter Boyce, Hilana Layne, Michael Agard of Krosfyah and Sinclair Gittens the President of BATMAN.

In our non traditional industry, entertainment. We are not usually included in discussions at this level and we were thankful for the opportunity and that the PM should see us as important a sector to invite.

Discussions were frank and productive and we were able to make submissions that would be  beneficial not only for cultural industries but to the Barbados economy as a whole.

I beleive that statement speaks for it self, In terms of going into more depth as to what was discussed and the proposals which were put forward, NO!
You so malicious then you does get me sick, you want to know every thing, if you are nice I might tell you some time later

I apologise for not having a picture of me and Prime Minister David, and I know there are some people out there who would say I really did’nt meet him, but i did honest…

Peter “who met the prime minister ‘Boyce is moving away from the computer…

I have been observing with keen interest the furor over the government’s statement of being committed to Bajan talent for Crop Over.

Government stated that they could not allow a situation to occur where foreign acts would be brought here to headline our premiere Crop Over events over local acts. So what the ass is the matter with that? That is a government policy we should applaud and as artistes we should be jumping with joy when we hear it.

I know you will start saying “Boyce you working with the NCF doing Cavalcades now and you supporting them” . That is not true, my position was always the same.

The Boyce position was well ventilated in several posts I wrote in 2007 including a famous Open the gates my ass where I cursed the previous administration over not only having a Trinidad act headlining our Party Monarch show but a radio ad with the Trini inviting us to our own Bajan national event.

Also last year the previous government had their ass royally kicked whem they had a Cohobblopot which featured Jamaican, Mr. Vegas causing the event to be scorned by the public who chose to attend the competitive 100% Bajan event “Euphoria” instead.

So without any reservation we need to applaud and endorse the stated government policy to highlight our Bajan entertainers during our Crop over season.

As we previously said the Sponsors Breakfast stage at Sherbourne Center on Tuesday by NCF while “bakeless’ was other wise an impressive launching of Crop Over 2008.
The Chairman of the NCF spoke, Minister of Culture spoke but I was especially impressed with the speech given by Prime Minister David Thompson.

In his speech the PM stated “I fully endorse the work that the National Cultural Foundation is doing, but I am hoping that over time they can hand over some of those activities to the management of new players who can truly make it a national festival,”

I have already stated my “Euphoric” joy in hearing of this new policy of the current government in contrast to the exploitive agenda which existed before.

Of course as commented by P’ Oui any one can say any thing but you must wait and see if they will follow through with action. What impressed me with the speech was not just the content, but the knowledge that what was being stated was already being put into practice.
Example; my involvement working with the NCF coordinating Cavalcades, one year ago would you have guessed that the culturally nefarious Peter Boyce would be the point person for the government’s inaugural Crop Over event? That’s an example of private enterprise being utilized.
Another Example “Cohobblopot” the premiere revenue generating gem of our national festival, I happen to know NCF is right now reviewing tenders to give out a concession for that event to be done by a private promoter. That is something that would never have happen before. “Give away we biggest money earner? Wuh You is a idiot?” That talk done, new policy in place!
This opens the door that fledging young promoter talent like Ronnie Morris, Chris Harper, Andy John and more can get involve with the festival.

So in the case of PM David he is not just doing the talk but “walking the walk”,

”Lord come fuh yuh world do!”Peter Boyce working for the Government?” “Looka my crosses though, he sell out…”

I thought so at first when first approached by Mr Antonio “Boo” Rudder head of the now defunct Festival Events Bureau back in November 2007. “Boo” said it was an opportunity to contribute and participate in the planning of Crop Over from a national level.

My first impulse was to refuse as I did see it as restriction of my usual “anarchistic” role of representing the industry. Most of my colleagues however saw it differently, they stated it was an opportunity that I could now represent the industry from the “inside” making input into the decisions that would more benefit entertainment.

So I accepted, bearing in mind it was also an generating opportunity. When the government changed I was fortunate enough that the David Thompson administration also recognized my potential and maintained my participation, and I thank them for that.

I pledge the Boyce Voice will continue to operate as it has in the past addressing contentious issues which affect entertainment.If for some reason I seem to be lacking in my usual acerbic tone and you need to buse my ass on any pro government position I might articulate, that’s what comments are for…

Can you spot any white people in this tent audience picture?

Is racism and segregation alive and well and kicking in Barbados?
Is it all around you and it is just so common place you don’t even recognise it?

I read an article in the Nation newspaper entitled “Racism in our Hotels” where it identified our hotels as the only in the world that have guards and security barriers at their entrances, deeming them selves seemingly unreceptive to the general public they are suppose to serve.
The intention according to the writer, is to keep out the black locals and keep the white visitors separated.

Let’s look at other subtle forms of racial segregation which seemingly exists, calypso tents.
When was the last time you saw white people in a calypso tent?
As manager of Bacchanal Time tent operating since 1995 I cannot tell you I have ever counted 6 white people at any one of our shows, and that’s quite a claim considering we have events which exceed over 5000 patrons.
Usually when we do have an adventurous white couple who visit us when MC Mac Fingall highlights them as he always does, they are always “visitors” from overseas.
In other words the white people who live here don’t seem to go to calypso tents. (I know John Edwards attended last year, you don’t count John)
Is it because tents are usually dominated by black patrons.

White people attend their own events like polo and the others I don’t know about since I am black.

What invisible line exists which determines that you will only see only blacks at some events and mainly whites at others?

Is this a sign that in 2008 racism is alive and albeit quietly kicking in Barbados?
Where’s the white people at?*

How many whites in this tent audience picture?

Answer; 4; Congrats you win a ticket to Polo event next weekend

*Quote from Cleavon Little; 1974 “Blazing Saddles” movie

“Why are we allowing our young event planners and tent managers to hit a glass ceiling because government wants to manage Crop Over events…
When we can contract them out and demand what we want in return and also earn something from them and give them the opportunity to be involved in large event management.
we need to give those persons with ideas in our cultural industries an opportunity to execute them”

Those are the words of Prime Minister David Thompson when he debated in parliament last week, they lifted the spirits of this event planner and tent manager aka P.Boyce, and indeed all of cultural industries should rejoice and embrace the PM’s comments.

Finally a Prime Minister who speaks of truly developing the industry and creating opportunities for us instead if the flawed exploitive policy which was transmitted from the previous administration.

I am not saying so just because government has changed, I have expounded this criticism of the BLP government several times in this blog when they were in power.
That’s one of the reasons why Boyce or Madd Entertainment was never given work from the previous Government and why our entrepreneurial efforts to do our own projects i.e. “Euphoria” were always met with opposition from the authorities.

I have always remembered ex PM Arthur making the statement at a consultation I attended, “there is nothing wrong with the government being entrepreneurial!” indicating how it was the prime objective of the government to make money “off” of the cultural industries.
In contrast to that flawed Arthur statement, we should be elated to hear the words of PM David speaking of removing the “glass ceiling” that stood in our way, now giving entertainment entrepreneurs the opportunity not only to make a tangible contribution to our national festival Crop Over also but to benefit from that contribution.

“Peter Boyce, you have been selected to be on the CBC board!”, from the time I got the call from the PM I have been practicing. As you can see from above picture I spent quite a bit of time “on a board” before it was explained to me that’s not what they had in mind.

Now I am watching CBC TV and listening to CBC radio stations like madd so I can make valid contributions when I participate as a director on the board of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation.

It is quite an honor to have been selected by the Prime Minister to be a board director on a corporation as prestigious as the CBC. Considering my controversially nefarious reputation which is now even more re-enforced by the colorful discourses exemplified on this blog, some might think the PM is taking a chance. How ever I endeavor to rise to the occasion, or the occasions when meetings are convened and emit a level of performance and representation which would be a credit to the industry.

The CBC board contains a diverse selection of people including Leroy Parris of Clico as Chairman, Vice Chair Janette Layne Clarke and also not one but TWO pastors, so I know we will have some fun.

I would like to publicly thank the PM for having the confidence in my abilities to give me this opportunity to serve.

In the mean time I will continue my “board” practice, I am certain at some time Chairman Leroy Parris will convene a directors meeting in CBC yard and we will be giving boards expected to be adept at being “on them”, I want to be ready!

Yesterday’s media headlines announced that Ian Estwick was no longer the top man at the NCF, of course Boyce Voice had already told you his ass was gone from every since.

Ex NCF CEO Estwick stated in the media he had nothing to say. Well allow Boyce Voice to say it for him.

The termination of Estwick brings an end to a five year reign of cultural victimisation and vindictiveness which had been unleashed on cultural industries during his tenure as CEO. There are two Estwick memories that have imbued themselves on me that I would like to relate to you in as concise a manner as I can.

Back in 2005, I was invited to a business lunch as the then President of the Barbados Association of Tent Managers at the British High Commission. The purpose was for cultural industry reps to network with visiting UK business people with a view to developing business opportunities.

Estwick attended as NCF CEO also representing our cultural industries and this is how he chose to do it. Over lunch, he proceeded to explain to this African gentleman based in the UK how in Barbados people in cultural industries consisted of persons who had “failed academically”,could do nothing else and therefore became entertainers..

That is how as CEO of NCF he chose to articulate on our behalf, that’s why his ass is gone!

I also vividly remember a meeting at NCF where Mr. Estwick as chairman blatantly ignored and refused to recognise my efforts to make contributions and participate in the discussions, he then dropped some remark about how he ignores people who oppose him publicly. That’s why the ass is gone….!?

Wait, I am sorry, did I say “The ass”? I profusely apologise I meant “his ass”. That’s why HIS ASS is gone!! OK? Don’t want to get my ass in trouble, me and my uneducated Cawmere self. That’s why my ass is still here!

I attended a meeting at government house yesterday where a fellow entertainer remarked to me after all the arrogant abuse that had been suffered by us under the previous CEO, he was now gone and we were still here…

Estwick’s chaotic NCF reign can be described in the words of Shakespeare as “a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury, signifying nothing…”

Or in the words of Boyce Voice, “His ass is gone!”