Peter Boyce, manager of Celebration Times calypso tent has a number of grievances with the National Cultural Foundation.(NCF)
Boyce told Trakker News, despite a series of consultations between stakeholders and the Ministry of Culture, the Crop Over seasons is about to start without a number of major issues being address.
According to Boyce, among his main concerns are, the unanswered request for the reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT), on tickets for shows at calypso tents.
"A request to increase the prize money for calypsonians, in calypso competitions has been ignored. The lage sum of money injected into the competitions in Trinidad this year created hype in Trinidad's carnival, I thought that our authorities would have taken similar action," Boyce said.
"It was also requested that an advance be given to calypsonians in the finals of the calypso competitions to help them with pre-production expenses.There has been no response to this request" says Boyce.
Eric Lewis of the Bacchanal Time tent is adopting a wait and see approach to the situation.
"I think the issue of VAT reduction is still in the hands of the Minister of Finance, the issue increased is still being considered by the NCF said Lewis.
He added,"There still is a bit of time before the start of Crop Over and the authorities time to get things in place".
