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!”

I now see why Gabby did not want to let go of that cultural ambassador job. I don’t blame he. You know what is $6000.00 a month plus $350 traveling allowance? That is what the Nation newspaper is reporting Anthony “Gabby” Carter was paid monthly for being our cultural ambassador.

Maybe we should be celebrating that it was recognised that an entertainer was worth $6000 per month. It is however, unfortunate that this same financial latitude was not extended to other members of the entertainment fraternity. I remember the meager increase in Party Monarch prize monies which was granted by government in 2007. Also last year, I remember how NCF CEO Estwick took back an event pass from Captain Sawyer and other calypsonians because they did not judge in the calypso competitions. Government could even give a $40 ticket to calypsonians further less substantial monies.

The fact that Gabby was paid $6000 monthly, we should not be vex. I also see that Philip Goddard was getting $15000.00 a month and he can’t even sing. Gabby should have been getting more. But the same monetary fairness should have been applied to other entertainment entities across the board.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander…
(Not that I am calling Gabby a goose and you a gander but you know what I mean)

The headline in today’s Nation newspaper is likely to send the calypso fraternity in a panic, “Back to the NCF”.The thought of the administration of Crop Over being put back into the hands of CEO imbecile Estwick is enough to make a person go Madd.

But wait, there is more. The article goes on to state that reports indicate that both Carol Roberts AND Ian Estwick have been dismissed from the NCF (National Cultural Foundation). To this Estwick is reported as saying “He was at work today and expects be at work tomorrow morning (today).” (I have to be careful when I quote Estwick as he threatens to sue me)

Don’t mind he and all that talk. His ass has been terminated! He probably means he will be going in this morning to clear out his desk. He needs to get his ass out and make way for the new guy. Instead of worrying if Estwick is going to be there you need to start guessing who will be the next CEO.

I hate to disappoint Boyce Voicians Ken, Leon and Asiba, but it is not going to be me. While I am overwhelmed by your confidence in my abilities, the diverse responsibilities of such a post along with its restrictiveness would not be congruent with my nature. That is not to say I would not have a tangible contribution to make in another form. More on that later.

The cultural industry need not be deterred by the changes that are occurring. Be assured that all will be well in the final analysis. Boyce gives you his personal assurance of that. I will miss Carol Roberts. I found her to be very effective in the brief time I interacted with her recently.

As for Estwick I am yet to write a fitting epitaph to summarize his NCF CEO stint, but for now I will use two words, GOOD RIDDANCE!

Boyce is leaving the computer!

Good Boyce Voice day to you, here are pics that were emailed to me by me by my New York contact that I thought you would be interested in, take a read and check the pictures including the snow pic Darron contributed at end… 

NY EMAIL; “Thought I would send you some photos of the Prime Minister’s first official visit to New York (NY).  This is at the annual Cocktail Sip of the Friends of Barbados DLP Association, NY.  It was held at Nazareth Hall and Bajans turned out in large numbers…over 500 people….I spotted several bees in the place but this is NY and everyone is a B..ajan.

SThe PM’s congratulatory cake.

 PM being interviewed by Richie Rich of Zync TV.

 Some of the large crowd which attended the event. Some in line for the buffet others on the dance floor doing their thing.(me;what do they eat at these things anyways, do they eat fish cakes or pretzels?)

Finally Here is a picture taken by Darron after a big snow storm they had up in New York where he is visiting, looks like a postcard so you should download it and send it to your friends.

Any readers out there in the world who attend events or take any interesting pics are welcome to email them to us and if approved we will publish on Boyce Voice.
For every photo published we will renumerate you with a profuse thank you.

Have a Good Boyce Voice Day!

Who gabby think he is….

I waiting to cuss he stink

Who gabby think he is…

Before you get all excited and telephone Gabby with the news that Boyce say he gun curse he, the opening you see above are lyrics from Gabby’s own calypso “Who Gabby think he is”.

Which brings me to my point, Gabby seems to think he will be Cultural Ambassador forever. Anthony “Gabby” Carter is more than my friend, he gave Madd comedians our first big break performing in Battleground calypso tent when we had just left Combermere in 1982. I have a tremendous respect for Gabby; you need to read one of my first posts “What the ass is a cultural ambassador anyways?” where I lamented that Gabby was not given enough real power and authority to go with his prestigious title.

However, the Government has changed and protocol dictates that all ambassadors and boards of directors appointed by the previous administration make their resignations available to the new government. I read in the newspaper where ambassadors from New York, United Kingdom, Africa and Timbuktu have sent in their resignation letters. But not Gabby. He is maintaining his position and waiting to see what the new Minister will do.

So all the remarks wunna drop, saying that Gabby like he “switch sides” and how he sing pun de DLP celebration motorcade, even Kidsite throw a song punch at he at the Rihanna tribute show. But Gabby is not budging.

Lets vote on it Boyce Voicians. Do you think Gabby should relinquish the post of cultural ambassador as protocol dictates or were you so happy with his tenure you would like him to continue? VOTE NOW!

Gabby, Me and Blood at Barbados Music Awards last year…. I told you we are friends