Govt promise to help Revue

Hours before performing at the People’s Partnership second anniversary celebration in Chaguanas, calypsonian Michael “Sugar Aloes” Osuna threw out a proposal to the Government, business sector and Opposition seeking land for his Kalypso Revue tent. The proposal was discussed but Aloes insisted “nothing has been cast in concrete. But they (Government) decided, yes, they will help.”

Aloes, manager of the tent, revealed that following an invitation sent to government ministers, the business sector and members of the Opposition by Kalypso Revue, a breakfast meeting was held at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain on the same day of the party’s anniversary. Partaking in the discussion, Aloes said, were Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal and PNM’s Laventille East/Morvant MP Donna Cox.

Aloes said Opposition Leader Keith Rowley was invited, but failed to show “for what reason I don’t know.” The meeting was to discuss Kalypso Revue’s 50th anniversary, to be celebrated next Carnival. Among the ideas thrown out, Aloes said, was a permanent headquarters for Kalypso Revue, awarding a three-year scholarship to young bards, producing a magazine, honouring past and present calypsonians, building an archive of Kalypso Revue which could serve as a tourist attraction and museum.

“All this is in the pipeline for next year’s celebrations. We want a place we can call our own. We don’t want land for a farm. If we get land in Port-of-Spain that would be nice. Is just a portion of land we asking to put up a structure.” Asked if he thinks the land will be given to him, Aloes said it was left to be seen. He insists that singing on the PP’s platform on May 24 was just a job and he had not ‘sold out’ to the Government.

“What is there to sell out? It was not a political rally or platform. What is wrong with that?” Questioned if he would remain committed to the PNM, Aloes shot back, “Why do they question my loyalty? I have nothing to tell anybody. I am 50 years old. I should not be answering no questions for my actions. “If you are aligned with the PNM and you establish a fact that your are a PNM and the Prime Minister calls you and give you as job, you wouldn’t take it?”

‘PNM people voted PP into power’
Aloes said the People’s Partnership did not get into government by its membership alone. “The PNM people voted these people into power.” Told that PNM leader Keith Rowley had expressed disappointment in him mounting the PP’s platform, but affirmed that Aloes would remain committed to the PNM, Aloes said, “They could be disappointed if they want, but the fact of the matter is, I am looking for certain things and the Government in power is I who have to ask for it.”

He said he was surprised that people took issue with him singing She’s Royal on the stage. Author and activist Pearl Eintou Springer claimed that the song was out of place. “Let them eat their heart out. What problem they have with the song? Springer disappointed me. Common sense ain’t so common after all.”

He also shied away from the price he was paid to perform, claiming that it was nobody’s business. If called to sing for the country’s 50th Independence anniversary by the Government, Aloes said he would do it again. Yesterday, Aloes performed in Tobago making it the second time he performed for the Government.