00:00Prime Minister Kamala Pissot-Bissasa is dismissing claims of political interference following a technical glitch that led to the brief
00:08blackout of defending Calypso monarch Hélène Francis during Sunday night's Dimash Grosso.
00:14Responding to questions from the media, the Prime Minister rejected suggestions that the interruption was a deliberate attempt to censor
00:21social commentary.
00:22She said, quote, sorry to break this news to my loving and dedicated haters, but no one has to censor
00:29Calypso because over the years political stooges masquerading as Calypsonians censored Calypso themselves by alienating the majority of the population
00:39with their hateful diatribes, end quote.
00:43The Prime Minister was addressing claims that the state-owned broadcaster TTT intentionally cut the performance.
00:49She argued that public interest in traditional Calypso has declined, noting that while socafettes attract thousands of patrons daily from
00:58January to Carnival Tuesday, some Calypso tents struggle to sell even 100 tickets on their best nights.
01:06Pissot-Bissasa added, quote, that's because the majority of citizens have moved on from that divisiveness and negativity.
01:13People just want to enjoy themselves and be happy, end quote.
01:17At the same time, she praised what she described as a new generation of artists, helping to keep the art
01:24form relevant, including newly crowned 2026 Calypso monarch Terry Lyons and Soka Artis Young Brader.
01:32Congratulating Lyons on her victory at the Queen's Park Savannah, the Prime Minister said her performance demonstrated the unifying power
01:40of Calypso.
01:40She said, quote, congratulations Terry, our beautiful 2026 Calypso Queen.
01:46Her song was emotional, real, inspiring and unifying.
01:51People should celebrate her victory instead of chasing wild conspiracies to push political agendas, end quote.
01:58The blackout incident has since sparked debate across social media with organizers maintaining it was a technical issue.
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