Hours after being crowned Calypso Monarch 2004 on Sunday night, the Mighty Chalkdust (Hollis Liverpool) said he had to beg police for a parking space and is crying out for better treatment for all calypsonians...
News Source: Trinidad Express
Chalkdust, who's now holding the title for the sixth time, said he got the judges approval because his compositions were good, topical, traditional and performed in an entertaining way without anybody getting angry, vex or being hurt. "So many calysonians have been singing songs where they take sides either for the PNM or UNC or some sectoral interest. I don't sing for anybody, any specific side, I can't be bought or sold, so I keep a middle line in calypso."
Noting that Young King Brian London was the favourite to wear the crown, Chalkdust said he had to bring out something new to get the edge.
His new song was "Fish Monger" while his other calypso was "Father of the Nation".
In an interview with the Express yesterday, Chalkdust said Government must do much more for the artform and pointed out that calypsonians Short Shirt and Swallow from Antigua, Arrow from Montserrat and Beckett of St Vincent and the Grenadines were all cultural ambassadors of their countries and had red passports.
"Nobody in Trinidad carry red passports. I had to (even) beg the police this morning, as calypso king, to pass in a street to park my car. I don't have any pass."
Chalkdust said that no government of this country has ever done enough for the calypso artform.
"No government has done sufficient for this artform, no government has ever done sufficient. None whatsoever, " he stressed.
Chalkdust insisted Government should do more to ensure calypsonians are employed after the Carnival season and have homes. "Look how many calypsonians today are unemployed, have no place to rest their heads and are continuing to die in poverty," he said.
"You can't have a calypsonian entertaining in the night and winning road march and at the end of the day he has nowhere to sleep , and many of our artistes have no where to sleep. I can't go to a bank and tell them I am a calypsonian and I want a loan," he said.
Chalkdust also said there is a great need to promote the calypso internationally and Government should assist in this regards through Tidco.
According to Chalkdust, the foundation of calypso must not be destroyed, "This must not happen."
He admitted that "change is inevitable in calypso and one has to accept change but while we accept change we can't destroy the roots of the calypso artform."
He added: "I got scared because we are stamping on the roots, trying to pull up the roots of the calypso and throw them away. The calypso artform is heading in all different directions but we can't kill the roots because it's the roots that sustain the artform, and so I am happy for my victory because it's a victory for calypso roots."
Chalkdust also commented on the Devon Seales controversy in which he resorted to legal action because he was left out of the finals after experiencing audio problems in the qualifying round in San Fernando: "Devon Seales did have a point. I was there, and Devon Seales definitely was unfairly judged . I agree with his protest . He ought to protest because he was unfairly judged. At the same time the judges decision is final."
On another Carnival controversy-Cro Cro's "Face Reality"-a composition in which Weston Rawlins suggested that corrupt politicians and businessmen should be kidnapped, Chalkdust said: "I know what Cro Cro was trying to say, and I agree wholeheartedly with Cro Cro in what he was trying to say but I don't agree with the way he said it.
"I would have done it differently. I would have a little more spin on the wicket. I would have bowled a leg break, Cro Cro opted to bowl a long hop. That kind of wicket called for a leg-break," he added.
The new Calypso Monarch said he remains committed to freedom of expression.
