Artistes want demands met or no participation for Vincymas 2023

Despite a list of demands having been collectively sent to the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) in a petition signed by more than 20 artistes, Chewalee “Rumist” Johnson, spokesperson for the group says they are still open to dialogue. And the CDC said it is willing to be accommodating.

A second letter will soon be sent to the Carnival governing body, explaining that the artistes are willing to talk about the petition that was delivered to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CDC, Ashford Wood on Thursday, April 27.

The seven demands are:

•An increase in prize money for the Ragga Soca and Soca Monarch competitions (1st place EC$40,000; 2nd place EC$25,000; 3rd place EC$15,000).

• An increase in appearance fee to EC$5000.

• Payment of prize money to be made no later than five days after the competition.

•Each performer to be granted a copy of their score sheet upon request.

•Each performer to be allowed to display the brand of any business that has sponsored their performance.

•A percentage of revenue from pay-per-view should be given to artistes. •A percentage of revenue from the use of all artistes’ image and likeness across all media platforms should be given to the artistes.

The letter further states, “there will be no participation in these competitions by any artiste unless the aforementioned demands are met”.

Johnson, a Calypso and Soca artiste, acting on behalf of several fraternity members, told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday that while all artistes involved in VincyMas feel they deserve more for their participation in the competitions, many of them were unwilling to sign the petition for fear of some sort of reprisal.

“Every artiste believes we should receive more from the Soca Monarch competition. Some express their unwillingness to sign because they are afraid of backlash.

“I don’t know why they would feel like there would be any backlash or they would be blacklisted or anything like that …,” Johnson pointed out.

“To my knowledge I don’t know CDC to be that sort of entity where when you ask for something that you want and you decide you are going to take a stance that they decide they’re going to blacklist you. I never heard of that situation so hopefully that is not the case,” Johnson said.

He said the petition would have received more signatures but some artistes live too far from the capital and were caught up in personal business and didn’t get to sign, while others live overseas.

Johnson said they are hoping to have dialogue with the CDC’s CEO as well as Chairman Ricardo “Ricky” Adams to sort of resolution.

“I don’t like to act alone. I like to have the input of others,” Johnson stressed.

Explaining their situation, he said its expensive to take part in the competitions and persons expect a certain standard.

“And that standard cost thousands of dollars, and if you can’t afford that out of pocket you have to go to corporate SVG to seek sponsorship and sometimes those entities would like a little branding on stage. However if they are a competing brand, you can’t use them on stage or you will be disqualified.

“And then a lot of the places that sponsor VincyMas, if you go to them, they will say, ‘we already sponsored VincyMas so we can’t help you’ so we are stuck between a rock and hard place,” Johnson added.

“We are stuck in a position where people expect a certain standard so we have to spend a lot of money but we can’t generate the money.”

He said even if you win or place in the competitions, the prize money is not adequate.

“So it’s a lose lose anyway you take it.”

Among the persons who have signed the petition are Elrico ‘Da Pixel’ Hunte, Kemuel “Karbon Jamz” Stapleton, Derron Jamal ‘Magikal’ Rouse (2019 Soca Monarch) and Johnson himself.

Several overseas artistes have also signed but none of the local cultural ambassadors have lent their signature to the cause. Notably absent are the signatures of Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle and Delroy “Fireman” Hooper.

“I can’t speak for anybody who did not sign but it is what it is … I believe that everybody who sign would, if we don’t come to a point where we are satisfied, stay out. I know for sure I would stay out. I am confident in that,” Johnson said while noting that they are not asking for anything that is unreasonable.

He said in neighbouring Grenada, the third place winner is, in some cases, rewarded more that the first place winner here.

“And they (Grenada) even further raised their prize monies. We heard about the Power Soca Monarch winner getting $100,000, $80,000 in cash and $20,000 in kind.

“Last year the Calypso Monarch in Grenada was $45,000, ours is $25,000. In Grenada the Groovy- which is what we call Ragga is I believe $30,000 for the winner, ours is $15,000 and I think their third place is $15,000 or $20,000 something like that.

“I mean it’s ridiculous so, hopefully, we could see a change. Whoever needs to step in to ensure that the Soca artistes are treated fairly, I hope it would come over their hearts to do so, whether it is the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) or the Government.”

Johnson, the first ever Virtual Calypso Competition winner (2020), and the 2016 National Ragga Soca king says he is looking forward to VincyMas 2023 and an amicable discussion with the CDC.

The CEO of the CDC, Ashford Wood told SEARCHLIGHT that during a recent press conference, Chairman Ricardo Adams did indicate that the CDC is not in a position to give an increase in prize money.

Wood said, however, that the CDC is awaiting a formal letter from the artistes who signed the petition asking for a ‘sit down’ to discuss their demands.

He said the CDC is willing to discuss the demands and come to an amicable solution.

“The absence of any artiste would affect any festival, but the CDC will still go ahead,” Wood said.