This past week, even as we mourn the loss of calypsonians Lord Canary here, and of King Austin in Trinidad, the subject of calypso as an art form is again getting traction with comments by Trinidad & Tobago President Anthony Carmona delivering the feature address at the Top 20 Stars of Gold Show presented by the country’s National Action Cultural Committee (NACC). Focusing on his concern for the art form he recalled King Austin’s hits, “Progress” and “Who is Guarding the Guards” and said that the former work warned of the dangers of an economic development that was out of step with human and environmental well-being. “My deepest regret is that this great calypsonian, King Austin, like many before, died in a type of destitution that must make us all feel a sense of shame,” lamented the President. “To be a Calypsonian artist is a worthy and honourable profession, just like any other honest profession. We must come to terms with the passage and frailty of time and the time has come to simply act on the crisis of destitution among our Calypsonians.” Carmona urged the calypso fraternity to create a pension and annuity scheme to provide for that time when the calypsonian can no longer sing.
