Calypso Association launched

-urged to focus on youth
The Guyana Calypso Association was officially launched last Sunday and a call was made for more young people to get involved in the art form.

At a workshop held at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue, where the association was launched, Minister of Culture Dr. Frank Anthony said something needs to be done to attract more young people to participate in calypso competitions. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), he also emphasised that the history of calypso needed to be documented so that young people could have an appreciation for it.

Dr. Anthony said that over the last year the Ministry had been working with the calypsonians to improve their performances and to help persons become more appreciative of it, GINA reported.

He added that with effort and commitment from the calypsonians, they can gain the trust from the communities to support the association. According to GINA, the minister stated that his ministry has also been working with the chutney singers and that he hoped that sometime in the near future there will be an integration of the two associations.
The culture minister was presented with a copy of the official rules of the association by committee member Fitz Herbert Ralph. The association will be conducting a series of workshops and meetings throughout the year, GINA also said.