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– Mighty RebelBy Zena HenryVeteran Calypsonian Geoffrey Phillips, aka ‘the Mighty Rebel’, has taken offence over the recent banning of what was dubbed ‘anti- government’ calypso tunes. As such, the six-time calypso monarch described the move by the National Communications Network (NCN) to take the tunes off air as “petty and disgusting.”Phillips, who now heads the Calypso Association, has opted to convene an urgent meeting this coming Sunday at the Critchlow Labour College, to address the ban among other things. Rebel charged that the unwarranted bar “is damaging to Mashramani, damaging calypso and the entire fraternity.”Rebel, who is himself no stranger to controversial political calypsos, said that the songs go through the implemented process,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, make the semi finals and finals stage before a winner is crowned. “Why then are they torturing us?” he asked.The calypsos, Rebel stressed, had to be auditioned and that was so done in December of last year at the Mash Secretariat by people designated to do so on behalf of the government. He said, “The songs were passed, sent to the competition; sung in a semi finals and then in a finals before a winner was selected.”Geoffrey ‘Mighty Rebel’ PhillipsIn relation to the allegation that the calypsos are anti-government, Rebel said,NFL Jerseys Supply, “Anti- government thing goes on all around; all over the Caribbean. You can’t stop Chalkdust and Crow Crow and Sugar Aloes from singing anti-government songs.”Rebel remembered that during his time in competition, “All the songs that I won my six crowns with, and got all my seconds with were controversial songs.” He remembered when he sang the winning tune “disapproving system” which had lyrics that former President Forbes Burnham had the country eating so much rice flour that his (Rebel’s) wife named his son Royston. He said that the late President himself related to him that, “When you sing these songs, they tend to ease the tension in the minds of the people.”Rebel opined that those responsible for the ban were targeting this year’s winner ‘De Professor’ but feared retaliation from the Linden community from where the man hails. He thus said that “To make a long story short, they banned everyone.” Over 20 calypsonians participated in this year’s competition with 11 participants making it to the finals.Reigning monarch, Lester Ricardo Charles popularly known as “De Professor”, also expressed dissatisfaction at the banning of the calypso songs. “I feel terrible, real terrible about the situation because from time to time, I would sing controversial music.” “What took place was not needed,” he chargedAccording to Charles, the recent ban has placed a damper on the efforts of those trying to revive the art form, but he insisted that the passion “would never die.”“Where I am from we do not have access to news dealing with current affairs.”The calypsonian charged that while the two leading independent newspapers – Kaieteur News and Stabroek News – would highlight what is happening, “Some persons might not be good readers,Cheap NFL Jerseys, while they may be good listeners.” It is with this, he said, he sings for the people, educating them and enlightening them as to what is taking place in the country.Reigning monarch – Lester ‘De Professor’ Charles“Calypso is already being stifled because of social commentary, and I think that constructive criticism should be good for anybody since it helps one to pull themselves together and correct the wrongs.” Before the ban, Professor said there had been no query over the songs which went through a process beginning since last year.  He charged that he would have expected if anyone was to speak on the issue, it would have been the Culture Minister, but lashed out at Minister of Works Robeson Benn, who he said is unaffiliated with the matter, for getting involved.According to NCN sources, Minister Benn walked into the state-owned media house and ordered that all the calypsos be banned from the airways; even those that were non-controversial. A notice was later placed by management stating that no more of the music must be aired.‘ De Professor’ however said that there are two faces to the ban, since now it has given citizens even more reason to focus on calypso music, “to hear what it is that has offended the Government so much.”  “Before we (calypsonians) were concerned that our voices were not being heard,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and after the ban, persons became very annoyed, but every word is true. What we say is not unheard of, it is from the media houses that we get the information and put it into song.”“What the Minister did was only open the people’s eyes to what is happening because they will want to hear what we have to sing about now.” De Professor continued, “We will not simmer, the music is not about personal attacks, disrespect or vulgarity, we come to fulfill a purpose and we do it through our music.”The monarch said he is not looking to boycott anything,Cheap NFL Jerseys Online, and in fact thinks that next year, calypsonians should come stronger and support the art form that they love.On February 20,Wholesale Jerseys, management of NCN informed staff via notice that “With immediate effect… No 2013 Calypso must be played on air”. These calypsos were compiled for the annual Calypso Competition that is a feature of Mashramani.When Kaieteur News made contact with NCN Chief Executive Officer (acting) Michael Gordon, he dismissed that the Government had played any part in banning the “anti-government” tunes. He charged that it was a management call and a decision taken at that level.When Media operatives spoke with Culture Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, he too charged that the ban was a management decision taken at NCN.