It’s been a long, bumpy journey of squabbling tent executives, but a ‘group of 21’ appear confident that a strong, national organisation will emerge this weekend to lead calypsonians into Carnival 2010 and beyond.

What started as an impressive mass meeting of calypsonians and interested parties to re-organise the defunct St. Lucia Calypsonians Association (formed in 1975), dwindled to 21 people on December 12, last year. But the process continued nonetheless, and the 21 attendees emerged as the foundering members of St. Lucia Calypsonians Association 2009 (SLAC 2009).

An official press release following the December 12 meeting said the 21 members of the “calypso fraternity” saw the development as “the first step towards the re-establishment of a National Association.” Members confirmed their commitment and support to the new entity by paying a $1 token fee and a $10membership fee, paving the way for the establishment of the St Lucia Calypsonians Association 2009.

An official press release says the SLAC 2009 will replace the former association and relieve the St. Lucia Association of Recognised Tents (START) -- a loose collaboration of tent leaders – “of its parent body functions over the last few years.”

On Saturday 9 January 2010, the 21 founder members will attempt to carry the process further through ratification of a constitution at a meeting slated for 10 a.m. at the National Cultural Centre.

It would be interesting to see what formula for leadership and governance will emerge from this process, mindful of the central role of the calypso tents in the development of calypso here. According to the press release issued after the December 12 meeting, “anyone can become a member of the Association and persons who are desirous of becoming members can collect registration forms from the tent leaders or members of the Association.”

An association of individuals appears to be a safe way of reducing the influence of the tents on leadership and decision-making of the new body. The old Calypsonians Association was also an association of individuals, yet the fallout from inter-tent rivalries over the years was a leading contributor to its demise. In the past, calypsonians have tended to view leadership decisions, particularly those relating to financial management and control, with a tent bias, leading to allegations of favouritism and/or conflict of interest.

The new Association says its draft constitution “is an amended version of the one used by the former association and seeks to address many of the controversial issues” which arose while Calypso was managed by the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF). What the press release does not say is that the CDF intervened when the leadership of what was left of the old Association seemed to have lost the confidence of its own members.

While only the founding members of the new association can attend tomorrow’s meeting, the press release says, other members will have their say as soon as the registration process is complete.

The old Association became paralysed somewhere around 2004/ 2005 after tent frictions and financial management issues had converged. But the compelling demands of carnival -- the money, favours, fun and glory it promises to calypsonians especially – pressured tent leaders to form START. With this body the tent leaders presented calypso as a unified partner to the CDF, the state agency through which the government channels funds towards the organisation of carnival. However, during what became known as the ‘Bingo affair’, in which Calypsonian Fitzroy ‘Bingo’ Leon was criticised by START for competing with the same song in separate seasons, START was exposed as an organisation existing in name only – no rules, no constitution, no organisation.

The press release coming from the new body seems to suggest that calypsonians were aware that they had been losing influence and ownership of the big national competitions since the demise of the old association. According to the press release, “The St Lucia Calypsonians Association 2009 is expected to oversee the business of Calypso in 2010 and work with the CDF, which had to adopt numerous responsibilities due to the collapse of the former Calypso Association.”

The new organization is expected to receive the blessings of the CDF and the St Lucia Tourist Board, key partners in Carnival activities, the press release claims. But the CDF would want to ensure that the new association is truly representative of calypsonians and the tents before declaring its support.
Cecil Charles, chairman of the committee trying to revive the Calypsonians Association and Business Manager of the Take Over tent (TOT), says that START is not being disbanded and there should be a role for it. But he did not specify.

The new body has some work to do. According to Charles, “The founding members simply ensured that the revival effort moved to a progressive stage. We are aware that for different reasons many Calypsonians and interested persons were not at the last meeting but want to be a part of the association. We need all hands on deck if we are to become a vibrant and successful entity. I urge all who are interested and love Calypso to please get registered now so that our next meeting can deal with the election of officers.”

David Vitalis is the Assistant Editor with the Mirror Newspaper - This article originally appeared in the 8 January 2010 Edition