Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (TUCO) president Ainsley King has dismissed what he describes as “gossip” over the participation and victory of Machel Montano in the Calypso Monarch competition.
Montano was crowned Calypso Monarch at the Dimanche Gras on Sunday with his song Soul of Calypso.
However, some commenters were critical of Montano’s decision to enter the competition after he announced that he would not be participating in Carnival to focus on his studies. Others questioned the scoring criteria that allowed Montano to win the competition, as they disagreed with the results.
Responding to questions from reporters at a media conference to announce the 2024 Road March winner at the VIP lounge oft the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of- Spain, yesterday, King said such conversations were natural.
“I’ve heard all sorts of things. I’ve heard that TUCO had some sort of arrangement with Machel and Machel would have claimed it’s through his teachers and so on that this is what influenced him. With regards to the gossip and so on, to me I am learning everyday and I am realising that it is just natural in our society,” King said.
“The bottom line is that Machel Montano has chosen to come and participate for whatever reason.”
Referring to the lyrics of Montano’s winning song, King said TUCO has always pushed for the removal of barriers between calypso and soca, insisting they are the same genre of music.
He again said while political commentary will always have a place in calypso, the artform should guard against divisive themes.
He said one of the main priorities for his team has been to find ways of increasing attendance at calypso events, noting that overly divisive themes along lines of politics had discouraged spectator turnout.
“People who are out there bashing, they don’t understand the sleepless nights that I as a leader have working out the challenges, what caused this, what caused that. I’ve identified quite a lot and definitely, divisive calypsoes have been one,” King said.
“I am openly saying that I love political commentary, I love social commentary, I just love the music and I have a deep passion for it.
“So any misconception to believe that I am not in this with heart and soul and for the people, but then we have to respect every other entity around us.”
King admitted that for this year’s events, several East Indian patrons were seen describing the diversity in topics and move away from divisive kaisos in the final on Dimanche Gras night as a “big plus.”
He also said he organisation has received generally positive feedback from stakeholders for Carnival 2024, noting that despite challenges, he was pleased with the support offered by other partner entities like PanTrinbago.
King added that he felt it was time a workable business model was applied to calypso.
“Carnival to some people is the ‘people thing’ and the attitude you would see demonstrated is that we have to give away shows, we have to give this, we have to give this.
“The main thing is that the time has come for calypso to enter into a business model and we are trying our best.”