I recently read where the president of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (TUCO) Lutalo "Brother Resistance" Masimba took issue with the State funding Carnival events and then Government officials and their friends abusing free entry to these events.
In reply to Brother Resistance's remarks, Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas thought it reasonable. "If the State gives seven, eight, nine, 10, 20 million dollars to an event, or to support, I don't think it's unreasonable that members of Government should expect to go to these events and not be able to take a friend or two." Douglas is reported to have said.
He had no problem with Government officials getting free access to Carnival events and bringing friends along. "How could the system be abused? The Government funds a lot of these activities and the members of the Government expect to go to the event. What's abusive about that?"
What the good minister failed to understand is that State funds going to any event, Carnival or otherwise, belong to the citizens and therefore it is unreasonable for members of Government to go to these events and take "a friend or two" free of charge unless invited.If the minister has no problem going in free and taking friends, then we the taxpayers should also be allowed to go in free and "take a friend or two", or three or four, after all it's our money that a select few seem to be enjoying.
C Peters,
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