00:00Calypso has always been one of the art forms that encourages artists to think critically
00:05and ventilate issues in a safe space. In that arena, political commentary has been a vital
00:11element. But a lack of this content has been noted among the Calypsoians that were chosen
00:16to advance to the semifinals of the Calypso Fiesta competition. President of the Trinbago
00:22Unified Calypsoians organization Ainsley King is responding to claims being made against the
00:28organization in this regard. And one of the things that is also being purported is that
00:35political commentary we are trying to censor or stifle. And you see, in reality, the monarch
00:46that is defending his crop, he won with a political commentary. And second place last year was also
00:52political commentary. According to the two co-president, about 262 entries to the competition
00:59were judged this year, which had to be broken down to 40, as is customary. He says Calypsoians
01:05with songs a nation building were also left out in the 200-plus eliminations. And he questions
01:11why there isn't an accusation that they too are being censored. As a matter of fact, when
01:17you look at it, more political commentary made it to the semis per capita, you know. And then
01:26when you look at it, we have one inside there. Another thing is that we have people singing
01:34songs, some favoring different parties. And you will find that their parties, well, the leading
01:41party, the songs that projected them positively, all of them was eliminated.
01:46KING SUMS UP THE NARRATIVE OF CENSORSHIP AS DELUSIONAL.
01:51KING SUMS UP THE NARRATIVE OF CENSORSHIP AS DELUSIONAL.
01:51But I understand because people are living in the head. They are living in the head.
01:56But let me ask you straight out, have you had any pressure from the government?
02:02KING SUMS UP THE NARRATIVE OF CENSORSHIP AS DELUSIONAL.
02:03KING SUMS UP THE NARRATIVE OF CENSORSHIP AS DELUSIONAL.
02:03I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. AND AGAIN, I'LL GO BACK. IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS PRESSuring
02:07ME WHY IT IS THE OLANDO OCTAVE AND THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFIES AS ACTIVISTS FOR THEM, WHY ARE THEY
02:16OUT?
02:17KING IS SHARING HIS VIEW PERTAINING TO WHAT IS TRANSPIRING AND HE'S CALLING ON THE PUBLIC TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT
02:22IT.
02:23IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. EVERYTHING JUST DOES MAKE SENSE. BUT WHAT WE HAVE, YOU SEE, COMPETITION.
02:30IT BRINGS THAT KINDER SPIRIT, CONFUSING, DESPERATE SPIRIT.
02:36HE WAS SPEAKING FOLLOWING THE DRAW FOR THE 2026 NATIONAL CALYPSOMUNA COMPETITION,
02:41WHICH WILL SEE TESIA O'CONNOR LEAD OFF THE SHOW IN POSITION NO. 1 AND ROSALYN REID-HANES WILL CLOSE
02:47THE SHOW.
02:47A TOTAL OF 12 CALYPSONIANS WILL PERFORM ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE QUEEN'S PARK SAVANNAH,
02:51WHERE THE NORTH STAND WILL ALSO BE OPEN TO PATRONS. DEFENDING CHAMPION HELON FRANCIS WILL PERFORM SECOND TO LAST.
02:59BRYAN LONDON IS RESERVE FOR THE FINALS. AND THE PRIZE THIS YEAR IS BIGGER.
03:04WE HAVE DECIDED FROM THEN TO NOW THAT IT WILL ALSO HAVE A CAR FROM LIZELAND MOTO ADDED TO THAT
03:12ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
03:14KING SAYS IT HAS MATERIALIZED FROM A RELATIONSHIP HE HAS FORGED WITH THE COMPANY FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
03:20ALYSIA BOUCHE, TV6 NEWS.
03:23KING SAYS.
03:24KING SAYS.
03:24KING SAYS.
03:24KING SAYS.
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