New calypso association head promises inclusion

Expect the tenure the current executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Calypso Association (SVGCA) Inc to be an inclusive affair.

Such a projection has come from the association’s newly elected president Earl Bennett.{{more}}

Accepting that he is simply an administrator and not a calypsonian, Bennett was installed at last Saturday’s extraordinary general meeting of the association, staged at the Red Cross Headquarters in Kingstown.

“I am not a functioning calypsonian, so I am not here to sing; I am here to give administrative heft…. My vision is simple; we are a calypso association, it ain’t no we and dem, is all ah we…. I am not an ‘I man’, I am a ‘we man’… I don’t intend to be gender-biased … I don’t intend to be class biased,” Bennett stated.

“I am not in any top-down thing… I don’t know it all…. If you want to see us succeed, give me your help, I am depending on you,” Bennett added.

Promising to bring to bear his years of experience with sporting and other organizations, Bennett implored the practising calypsonians to do likewise and listen to others.

“You are the people’s voice and if you want an audience, public relations and promotion, you must bring your audience up to date; you must not believe you know it all,” he advised.

Bennett was placed to head the calypso association during the elections which formed part of the last Saturday’s meeting. But like all of his supporting executive members, a vote was not required, as they were inducted unopposed.

Having been nominated by the Graduates, Dynamites and Upstage Experience, Bennett, vice-president Glenroy “Homey” Delpesche, secretary Cecile “Lil Bit” Murray, along with treasurer Shaunelle Mc Kenzie (retained) gained three of the five votes.

Through some administrative bundling, a motion was, however, moved by the On Tour tent to have Elvis “Abijah” Abbey stand to contest the presidency, but he received no endorsement.

On Tour’s other nomination, Robert “Patches” Knights, will continue as the association’s public relations officer, as he too had no opponent.

The heads of the five operating tents, which also include the Ptani set-up, will serve as committee members.

Last Saturday’s meeting also heard the treasurer’s report, a report from the last secretary – Aubrey Burgin, which served as the executive’s report.

Discussions also took place on the proposal to institute a new constitution for the association.

This was led by outgoing president Anne Miller.(RT)