The announcement by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Wednesday that world-renowned calypsonian the Mighty Sparrow and world-renowned mas creator and designer Peter Minshall were to receive awards from the State (one a national honour and the other a deed to a property) has not been well received in all quarters.Yesterday, the Guardian editorial praised the decision of the Government to honour Sparrow and Minshall.
However, these awards earned prominent rebukes from the Leader of the Opposition about the location of the event, from a prominent artist about their being belated, and a calypsonian about the need for the Government to "fix" more than Sparrow.These remarks have come as immediate responses to a decision that has clearly been well received in the wider society. In many respects, these comments have rained on the parade of Sparrow and Minshall, especially having regard to the prominence of the people who made them.
One must ask whether making the announcement in Penal as opposed to Port-of-Spain is to be considered "political" or even "classless" as was suggested by the Leader of the Opposition.T&T society has changed significantly over the years since Sparrow first began to sing, so that today Penal has just as much legitimacy as Port-of-Spain for any major announcement to emerge from any government source.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/digital/new-members