Masmen are up in arms over what they say is a sudden increase in fees for registering ole mas in San Fernando.Complaining they were struggling to keep alive the dying artform, the masmen view the move as unfair and discouraging.Longstanding ole mas leader Phillip Montano said he only learnt about the changes when he went to register his band at San Fernando City Corporation last Friday."I was shocked."
He said they were being asked to pay $150, not the $50 they paid in the past.Additionally, he said, the Carnival organisers have introduced a new fee of $100 to register each couple and individual. Montano said, "We never had to pay to do that."Describing the move as unfair, Montano said he only paid the $150 to register the band."No one consulted with us. This is traditional ole mas. The artform is dying. We are trying to keep it alive.
"If they treating ole mas players this way sooner or later there will be no ole mas. When you charge that kind of mas it is a deterrent.The artform is already dying if they continue in that same vein we will not play in south and go to Port of Spain where you pay nil."Montano said in Port-of-Spain there is no fee to register traditional mas bands because there they are trying to encourage ole mas.He said masmen play ole mas for the "love of it" and "they should try to encourage people."
Another masmen Ezerton "Beckles" Cardinal said he found out about the changes from other masmen who were complaining about them.Echoing Montano's views, he said, "We are entertainers. We should not have to pay to entertain. I mean to say, if they want us to pay it should be at a minimal. I don't understand why they charging us though, Port-of-Spain don't charge."
When contacted, San Fernando Carnival conveyor Kenny Phillips said the increase and additional charge were necessary."We have to have money to run a office. We have to pay judges and will be increasing the prizes."Asked by how much the prizes would be increased, he said he was not sure, but the corporation did get a bigger subvention this year.He added, "You cannot get everything free. Work with me and I will work with you."
Told of complaints that there was no consultation, Phillips said he had consulted with the National Carnival Bands Association.However, Montano said traditional mas was not represented by the NCBA.