Local calypsonians are up in rage against a strange proposal by the National Carnival Committee requiring calypsonians to present lyrics on paper, before appearing on stage.
A meeting with Carnival Chairman Noah Mills yesterday (Tuesday) evening ended in total disarray despite calypsonians voting overwhelmingly to scrap the proposal. It was King Konris who wisely suggested during the meeting that calypsonians should be allowed to vote as to whether to keep the proposal, scrap it or revise it.
After 44 years of National Carnival there has never been any controversy involving St. Kitts calypsonians and any copyright issue. Hence this sudden proposal for calypsonians to present lyrics is both surprising and shocking.
Calypsonians will now be having a series of meetings to present a united front and will also be appearing on local radio stations to further sensitize the general public as they voice their continued dissatisfaction.
Meanwhile, former calypso monarch King Konris who attended the meeting, told Freedom Fm News desk that the unprecedented proposal was a form of censorship and was asking that it be removed. However, the Chairman of the Calypso Sub-Committee wanted to take the issues back to the National Carnival Committee legal team for their input. There was no word on whether the time line of October 5th to submit lyrics has been changed.