Brooklyn, New York (May 22, 2009) - The Richard OP Holder House of Fire Calypso Tent (HOF) has once again been snubbed by the Grenada Carnival Committee. This committee, a Division of the Grenada Board of Tourism Division, failed to contact the HOF to be a part of the planned history-making launch of Grenada Carnival in New York, scheduled for May 24, 2009. The committee has indicated that Calypsonians affiliated with the HOF will have to change plans if they intend to compete in Grenada, or forgo this year’s competition altogether, as there will be no judging of this year’s preliminaries in New York. The message was conveyed via an email from Mr. Colin Dowe, chairperson of the Carnival Management Committee to Mr. Val Adams, president of the House of Fire Calypso Tent based in New York. The New York based tent was also faced with earlier disappointment in February when management was forced to shelve plans for the annual and much anticipated New York Independence Calypso Monarch competition to make way for an event unrelated to independence celebrations. The HOF management and its members remain committed to promoting Grenada’s culture and tourism in North America and beyond. Background **************** The Richard OP Holder House of Fire Calypso Tent was first introduced to the Grenadian public in 2004. Based in New York, the House of Fire provided an opportunity for artistes residing in the in the United States and Canada be given an opportunity to participate in the National Calypso Monarch competition which is a major highlight of the Grenada Carnival celebrations. Since its inception the House of Fire Calypso Tent has attracted more than fifty (50) artistes many of whom have gone on to compete in the Demanche Gras finals of the Calypso Monarch competition in Grenada over the past years. The growing popularity of the Calypso Tent has significantly increased the number of visitors and participants in the Grenada national carnival celebrations in August of each year since the tent was launched, however 2009 the hopes of the HOF was suppressed by the Grenada Carnival Committee. History ************ In 2004, the carnival committee decided to send judges to New York making history since it was the first time in Grenada’s Carnival history that a foreign based calypso tent was officially adjudicated in the preliminary round of the calypso monarch competition. The judges were treated with the utmost respect and were provided with a stipend as requested by the carnival committee. The judges found accommodation at friends and relatives which was a great help in relieving some of the financial strains that HOF had to endure. This pattern continued for the next three years until 2006 when the HOF Management was startled by a number of unexpected demands including the provision of hotel accommodation for all the judges. These demands were communicated by Mr. Colin Dowe who was in charge of the judging panel at that time. Mr. Dowe cited reasons that were never made known to the HOF on any of the previous visits by the judging panel. In his email Mr. Dowe claimed that one of his judges was left stranded in the street, an accusation which today remains a blatant and malicious misrepresentation of the truth. The incident Mr. Dowe referred to occurred when one of the judges who were to be picked up at JFK airport proceeded to a vehicle to which he was not assigned. The situation was quickly resolved when the drivers of the two vehicles realized the mix up. The drivers communicated with each other and met at a set location and the passenger was transferred to the correct vehicle. Mr. Dowe clearly misrepresented the facts of the incident, and that was really unfortunate, according to an official of the HOF Calypso Tent. NY Independence Monarch ***************************** In February of this year HOF planned to host the annual New York Independence Calypso monarch and was promised that the much anticipated event would be incorporated into the calendar of activities celebrating our nation’s independence. The competition was not to be because the chairperson of the independence committee did not find it necessary or suitable to have a competition. It was ironic however, that DeeVee production which is owned by the then chairperson of the independence committee hosted an awards show on the same day that the HOF planned its annual independence monarch competition. In a subsequent discussion between Grenada NY Consul General Hon. Derek James and HOF management, the Consul General assured that the competition would be incorporated in Next Year’s celebration. 2009 Preliminary Judging **************************** As the HOF commenced plans for the 2009 season, the management was fortunate to meet with two ministers of government on separate occasions. The first meeting was with Senator Arly Gill which took place in October of 2008. HOF management team was represented by Mr. Val Adams and Mr. Michael Vincent. During the meeting the HOF team outlined its plans and discussed many of the problems that the HOF encountered in the past years. The question of preliminary judging was especially emphasized since that was the purpose of the tent’s formation. Mr. Gill was also made aware of the mission and objectives of the HOF especially the goal of promoting and marketing Grenada’s carnival in North America. It was also pointed out very clearly that HOF was not satisfied with the manner in which artistes that are foreign based are generally received by the then carnival committee and by some members of one of the calypso associations that existed at that time. The management of HOF was emphatic about doing something about changing the general attitudes of members of the media who coined phrases such as “JCBs” and who continue to influence the local Grenadian public in a negative way against foreign based artistes. Senator Gill acknowledged the problems and promised that changes are on the way. On the question of the preliminary judging of the HOF in New York, Mr. Gill assured the management that the judging of the tent will continue in New York and that it would not necessary to send seven judges to adjudicate. Mr. Gill further commented that the cost of travel and accommodation for the judging panel would not be the responsibility of the HOF management – a cost that was incurred by the HOF since 2003. Mr. Gill also stated that “Foreign based artistes must be part of the association”. The management of HOF and Mr. Gill expressed their satisfaction with the discussions and management was assured that there would be an official response to their requests and concerns in reasonable time before the start of the 2009 Carnival season. The second meeting took place in February, when the HOF management was afforded the privilege to meet with the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Simmons. The same aims and objectives were outlined to Minister Simmons and the minister was briefed as to what the HOF immediate needs were. This included the adjudicating of HOF in New York for the upcoming 2009 Carnival season. Minister Simmons response was brief but stated that everything that he had just heard from HOF was already allocated for in his budget. Mr. Simmons shared his email with HOF management so that the management of HOF would send him a copy of their 2009 prospectus. Carnival Management Committee Response ****************************************** The official response came via email from Mr. Colin Dowe, Chairman of the Carnival Management Committee. In his email Mr. Dowe summarized the discussion of the carnival management committee surrounding the possibility of conducting preliminary judging of the House of Fire Calypso Tent in New York. Mr. Dowe wrote the following: “It was the feeling of Committee members that honoring this request will not be in keeping with the developmental focus we have committed to, for the tents.” The news was devastating to HOF management, its affiliated calypsonians and its supporters. The fact that this effort by the HOF was not seen as an enhancement of Grenada’s cultural image internationally and worthy of being adjudicated baffled many New York based Grenadians. Mr. Dowe went on to say the following: “The splintering of the calypso fraternity has contributed to weak tents and it is critical that we harness our talents to ensure that a proper product is showcased, a true carnival season is developed and artistes are given maximum opportunities to hone their talent. It was therefore the feeling of the Committee that our NY stars had an important role to play and should actually join this struggle in order to make Spicemas better.” HOF in New York should not be considered splintering since this has been a unique project from conception. It is the feeling amongst artistes and fans that the efforts led by the HOF should be helped in order to further ensure the showcasing of a proper product where artistes are given maximum opportunities to hone their talents. “It would be difficult to be part of a process to make things better when at the same time HOF artistes are being told that their request can’t be accommodated in New York City where the majority of foreign based nationals reside and carnival in Grenada benefits immensely from remittances” says an official of the HOF management. Addressing the preliminary judging issue specifically, Mr. Dowe went on to write the following: “In addition, we were informed that the Executive of the Grenada Calypso Judges Association had great reservation in undertaking a trip to NY to adjudicate. Two things cited were the compromising of the panel, since it was dependent upon the issuance of visas and a history of inadequate provisions made for their members.” This statement may have been the most devastating and destabilizing of all. The alleged reasons cited by the executive of the judges association are unfounded and malicious. During the period when judges came to New York, Mr. Colin Dowe was the person in charge of the panel. There were no complaints officially by any members of the panel including Mr. Dowe. HOF sees this as very trivial and at the same time conniving to refer to an alleged incident or incidents that may have occurred three years ago. The expectancy was that more plausible and debatable reasons would have been cited as the reason or reasons that would in effect have prevented the judges so called “great reservations”. HOF can and will provide documented proofs that clearly state the conditions as set forth by the carnival committee in existence at the time. HOF can also provide evidence of costs incurred for air and ground transportation, food, lodging, and stipends paid over the years to the judges from the Carnival Committee who were brought to NY to adjudicate the HOF Calypso Tent. Carnival Launch – New York ****************************** To add insult to injury, the Carnival Management Committee, in conjunction with the Grenada Tourist Board, has chosen New York to launch Grenada’s Carnival season on May 24, 2009. This is a laudable move except that it was done under the radar. HOF management learned that the launch was actually supposed to have occurred since March but did not. It was rumored of this launch that prompted HOF management to make inquiries as to their credibility. As a result of these inquiries, the HOF management was able to confirm that a launch was indeed scheduled for May 24. Management was also informed that a number of artistes were selected from Grenada and a few from New York to perform at that launching. Even at this stage there was no official communication to Mr. Val Adams, the leader of the HOF requesting his input or his tent’s input in this historic launch. The message was now clear that in the eyes of the Ministry of Culture, Carnival Management Committee, Board of Tourism and related stakeholders, the HOF as an organized body was not welcomed to be a part of Grenada’s cultural exposure. The sacrifices and undisputable contributions that Mr. Adams as an individual and as leader of the HOF has been making towards Grenada’s culture and in particular its carnival for more than 25 years combined cannot be duplicated. This brazen snub of Mr. Adams and his HOF calypso tent cannot be swept under the rug as some may want it to be. HOF was not hoping to be the lead organizing body of this scheduled launching, but was expected to be invited to be there since the tent is based in New York. This public insult must be noted and referred to as one of the biggest blunders of this new administration. When the task of launching carnival season in New York can be contracted out to a production entity that is hostile and non supportive of the HOF, it is not farfetched to suspect collusion, favoritism and cronyism. This type of behavior and practice seems to have become a pattern of this new administration and in the interest of culture cannot be allowed to continue. Conclusion **************** The Richard “OP” Holder Calypso Tent is a non – political organization simply interested in the development and expansion of Grenada’s culture in the form of song, dance and music. It is the policy of the HOF to accept all potential members regardless of political affiliations, race, religion, sexual orientation or preferences. The recent developments that have caused its management, members and supporters to feel victimized, alienated and insulted would not dampen the spirits of the organization. The agenda of the HOF will continue to be pursued with the same vigor and determination so that the flag of our small but great nation will continue to be recognized throughout the world where music is an international language. Have a great carnival season!! From The House of Fire Calypso Tent (The views/opinions expresed in the above article are those of the writer and not necesarily those of the Inside Grenada Staff)