Keithroy “De Bear” Morson performing at the Calypso Revue Tent during the quarter-finals competition in July 2015 in Antigua. (Photo by Martina Johnson)
Leeward Islands Calypso King Keithroy “De Bear” Morson yesterday defended his decision to represent Antigua over his native Montserrat, in the Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch Competition, in Anguilla, on Saturday night.
The artiste said he does not understand why there’s disquiet among some Montserratians – according to news portal Discover MNI.com – over his choice.
He explained, “I’ve been competing in Antigua for 15 years, this is where I’m based and Montserrat knows that. I’ve always told that to them from the onset. In these little parts we like controversy and we like to know we can cause a little confusion in people’s lives. I’m used to it so I will just go with the flow. That’s how we are and we are not going to change,” Morson said.
The Montserratian born who has Antiguan citizenship, holds the calypso Monarch title in Antigua and in Montserrat and could have represented either country. While he represented Antigua, his Montserratian calypso colleague Garnett “Sylk” Thompson, competed on behalf of that country.
Morson said he did not receive any monies to represent Montserrat in the Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch competition, neither did he approach anyone expressing an interest in representing Montserrat.
“I represent Antigua. Antigua is the one that sent me down there. It’s not a sponsor though. It’s national duty that when you go out and represent your country you get a stipend to take care of you when you go out there. I didn’t mean to cause any confusion and animosity or confusion with anyone,” the veteran performer added.
Morson said he has no problem representing Montserrat in the future in the regional show down.
“I don’t know where they got this notion from that I was going to represent Montserrat if I win in Antigua. I’ll just have to make a decision next time on what I’m going to do in terms of competition. That’s us, we love bacchanal so bacchanal it is,” the performer stated.
The calypso artiste, who runs a calypso school in Montserrat, said despite the disquiet among some Montserratians and even Antiguans, many more people have shown him support regardless of which country he represents in regional calypso competitions.