Latest update December 19th, 2024 3:22 AM
No formal discussion was made to ban calypso songs
– Robeson Benn
Public Works Minister Robeson Benn
Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn said that there was no formal discussion in Cabinet to ban any of this year’s anti- government calypso songs. According to him, after he made a personal objection about one of the calypsos, “the issue seemed to take on a life of its own.”
The Minister said that he was returning home from a function when he heard a calypso which was in his view, “abusive, and libelous or rather slanderous,” playing on the radio. At that time, Benn said, he was in the vicinity of the radio station. It was then, he said, he went into the radio station and requested a copy of the tape, “because I felt it had to be discussed in the government at the highest levels.”
Benn said that he was told that he could not immediately get a copy of the song. Sometime after his arrival at National Communication Network (NCN) acting Chief Executive Officer, Michael Gordon, arrived. The Minister said that Gordon contended that “approval was given from the Director of Culture or somebody in respect to playing,” the music.
Benn said that he promised to further discuss the matter, “and maybe talk to some lawyers.” He said that there was no uproar, “but I did make a personal opinion that I didn’t think it should be played through the government radio station.”
Minister Benn however continued that he had no idea who authorized the banning of the calypsos as his only interest was to get a copy of the song he heard on the radio.
Benn said he would have felt better if the songs were “played in other places which I am not associated with. I felt it should not have been played on the government radio station and I expressed that view and still hold that view.”
“Usually when there is commentary about things, and it takes a certain life of its own it has to be based on some fact, and the persons who sing and promote these things have to have some right or reason which propels them to make those comments which reside in some basis or fact.
“If I had stood up in Parliament chambers and made some of those statements which were made, I might have been ruled out of order; I might have had to withdraw my statement on the grounds that they would have been non parliamentary, abusive.”
Benn said that there is no evidence to support the statements made in the calypsos; they do not have any real basis in fact that could be proven in a court. “I would think that if a public and government sponsored activity is undertaken and certain statements are made, not in a satirical way but in an abusive way, that it should be based in some fact that can be properly contested in a court.”
He further charged that if there is any good to come out of the matter, he would hope “that proper, appropriate vetting of calypsos would be done and at the standard of lyric and satire that one expects in calypsos and Soca.”
The Minister emphasized his belief that he had the right as a citizen and a Minister to go down to the station and speak out against something that “Impacted me.”
The Calypso community has however condemned the decision to ban the calypso. Veteran Calypsonian Geoffrey Phillips, aka ‘the Mighty Rebel’ and President of Calypso Association took offence over the recent banning of what was dubbed ‘anti- government’ calypso tunes.
Rebel and calypsonians charged that nothing was degrading, vulgar or disrespecting about the tunes as the information revealed in the songs come from information in the public domain. Many also charged that the purpose of the ban was to silence the reigning calypso king, Lester ‘De Professor’ Charles, but fear of retaliation from Linden, where he hails caused all the 2013 tunes to be barred.
The calypsonians said that the act is, “Damaging to Mashramani, and damaging to calypso and the entire fraternity.” As such the calypso president has called an urgent meeting scheduled for tomorrow. All patrons and entertainers were asked to make a special effort to attend.
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