Dice alleges blocking of performance at Carnival Street Festival

Dice is alleging that he is being blocked from performing his song “Looters”

Controversy is brewing in the Calypso arena with eight-time monarch, Dice, alleging that he has been blocked by “the authorities” from performing his new song “Looters” at the Carnival Street Festival on Friday.

The Carnival Street Festival this year replaces the annual Carnival Opening Parade which normally kicks off the Carnival season here in Dominica. This is due to the scaled-back version of Carnival this year because of the passage of Hurricane Maria.

Speaking on the Hot Seat on Q95 on Thursday, Dice, whose real name is Dennison Joseph, said he had signed a contract to perform at the event which is expected to take place on the Bayfront in Roseau.

He further stated that he was called by someone at the Dominica Festival Committee, telling him that he cannot perform at the event.

“The individual told that me the authorities had called to make sure or to ask that I don’t perform,” Dice stated. “I told them that they should have informed them (‘the authorities) before they asked me to perform … if it was up to them maybe I wouldn’t perform.”

Dice stated that presently, he doesn’t know how to proceed in the matter because he has already signed a contract.

“I don’t even know what to do, I am kind of in limbo because if that is the decision that they took, presenting myself on the Bayfront would be like null and void …” he said.

He remarked that he doesn’t know what is going on in terms of the song.

“The song is a song that is social commentary, what is happening in society and second of all it is a favorite of the people,” Dice said. “So if the people want something I don’t see why a selected few, whoever they are, should prevent people from getting the bread that they need to eat for their breakfast or their lunch or their dinner.”

He stated that the song is popular and is not even political.

“For the authorities to want to silence human beings or individual artiste, you know it is something that is just sad,” Dice stated.

He also said he will make his opinion known for the sake of freedom of expression and freedom of culture and “vibes.”

DNO is attempting to get a comment from the Dominica Festivals Committee on this matter.

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43 Comments

  1. bb
    January 29, 2018

    well I think that dom taking everything for granted. the dom public no exactly what’s going on but but they are failing to take a stand to do what is right.

  2. January 29, 2018

    The song “power and authority” by King Short Shirt of Antigua comes into play here !

  3. mine
    January 26, 2018

    Dice should say who called him with this information, no name fake news.

  4. KENNY G
    January 26, 2018

    boycott de show

  5. PFJ
    January 26, 2018

    To the haters and those who are guilt of trying, key word (trying) meaning you all won’t succeed in pulling down my SON I may not be visible BUT I am listening and watching for years please don’t take my silence for weakness MY GOD FIGHT THE BATTLE yes THIS BATTLE IS NOT OUR OWN BUT GOD’S
    yes I too carry my son DICE for 9 full months and those of you that have kids knows or I am expecting you all to know that you don’t take advantage of peoples children because whatever you do always remember what goes around always comes back around and if it don’t find you it will find your generation so please don’t take advantage of people with your evil minds because my God is watching and he has NEVER disappoint me yet I am on my knees people
    unanswered questions: WHY!!
    There will come one day a personal and direct touch from God when every tear and perplexity, every question and destress,every suffering and pain, wrong and injustice will have a complete ample and overwhelming…

    • Star
      January 28, 2018

      @PFJ..Blah Blah Blah….

  6. Concerned
    January 26, 2018

    The powers that be REMAINED SILENT on the themes of Amnesia bands despite the public outcry. Why censor Dice? Shouldn’t the censorship be applied to all? Will Amnesia parade their costumes today? This is a matter of principle. This bias and double standard needs to stop. STOP IT.

  7. dice fan
    January 26, 2018

    THE LOOTERS DICE AGAIN 2018 hear he comes

  8. AAPaul
    January 26, 2018

    Now I’m not saying that what Dice is saying is not the truth but I ask this:
    1) If Dice signed a contract to perform, one would assume it is legally binding; so weren’t the terms and conditions and what is expected of him laid out in the said document?
    2) How can a contract be broken by a phone call unless it was agreed that it could be? If it wasn’t then Dice can take legal action.
    3) Who is this mysterious person who asked Dice not to perform and was he a party to the contract or does he have the authority to make such a request?

  9. January 26, 2018

    Dice, don’t you have a song about dictatorship, tyranny, egocentrics, narcissists, greed, recklessness, manipulators, cowards, bystanders, censorship, how to ruin a country, how to undermine democracy, how to opress people, how to suppress critical thinking, etcetcetcetcetc? Of course I could go onandonandonand… Just a few ideas.

  10. Waw
    January 25, 2018

    My boy
    This smells like Baby Doc and his Tonton Macoute in Haiti.
    Dominicans wake up:!!!!!!

    • Neville
      January 26, 2018

      I hope it’s not to late already for waking up.

  11. Allison Mitchell
    January 25, 2018

    We must face facts. All what is echoed in this song is true; maybe offensive to the powers thast be. But my gosh, even have authority on calypso! This is so wrong. Think of Dice as one May, no one can touch him. I c an envision his performance on the big night. Free up the young man. Concentrate on doing what should be done by the system to make things better for Dominicans.

  12. shrewd
    January 25, 2018

    why they doh ban de naked amnesia band instead?

  13. anonymous2
    January 25, 2018

    Nothing but censorship under this dictatorial govt.

  14. Faceup
    January 25, 2018

    Dice tell them people go #@/= themselves all of them loot in one form or the other..?

  15. Odin
    January 25, 2018

    Govt., by a phone call, wants DFC to block a particular Calypso on Govt. Bay Front Show.

    It is said: “He who pays the PIPER calls the tune.”

    That does not however allow for breaching a signed contract or adding new clauses to it after it is signed.

    It also does not allow the curtailing of Constitutional rights to Free Speech, especially in the realm of Social Commentary Calypsos.

  16. Shaka Zulu
    January 25, 2018

    I have more sympathy for the people who loot because they may have been in a desperate situation after the storm. What about all the funds from the state that cannot be accounted for and people cannot explain thier increase in wealth compared to thier salary. What about money missing drom police station and other important gov offices when we were in relatively good times dor these people hell is waiting. While i will never condone any form of theft we have had numerous allegations of government funds being abused and not one investigation. Let me tell you this; anyone who has taken from the government purse for thier own organizations or personnal use is no different from the folks who looted after the storm. The Catholic church accepting 500k of tax payers money right before election in the name of donations is no different from looters. So you see this is an excellent calypso cause as dominicans we all been aiding and abetting looting. So let the man sing his song.

    • January 25, 2018

      What funds from the state that cannot be accounted for? Please tell us. Or is this another of your baseless allegations?

      • Neville
        January 26, 2018

        I could name but a few but for the time being I give you only 2 so that your little brain does not overheat: 1.) What happened to US$100 million that PetroCaribe/Government of Venezuela did write off? 2.) What happened to the proceeds of the sale of passports incl. diplomatic passports? Don’t come back and tell me, new bridge in Roseau, financing of the NEP program or even we never owed that money to Venezuela. We demand to see audited accounts and with audited I mean an independent auditor not Clarence Christian audited.

  17. January 25, 2018

    Under a democratic country freedom of speech is paramount, why do they want to silence Dice? we are no longer a democracy skerrite and his cronies have us under the gun . we the need to rise up and vote him out.

    • saqway
      January 25, 2018

      “We the need to rise up and vote him out.” BS you need only to rise the latter is a bygone. Why didn’t the DFP lead by our Current Green President Vote out original Red DLP (,gone wrong ) instead rose up & took out PJ May 29-1079 only to become a Dark RED Neo -DLP. Under PJ the Red DLP was infringing on the people’s right to assemble, leading up to cutting dread locks Nattys Ask the mongoose gang not Gairy’s but Leo/PJ’s ASk the crusader who was a Reality guy b4 joinQ95 and his gang.Let the man sing.

      • Throwing corn
        January 25, 2018

        Am not confused like most D/cans am clear with a philosophy. We need a cleansing like the G/da revolution only one problem there are no Maurices o island. Maybe we have but not on island. Parra, Tinco,Joey, wiltshire Athie,Jolly,Ron, etc have all transformed in one way or another. The younger ones who went to Cuba Russia Lybia etc. have either got consume by $ & cents some with US$ one even went to the Rubbles. other yens others have joined the UWP, Neo -DLP,some just got fedup and deceided to do taxi bziness.Then there are those former police who use to cut the dreads locks in the cells with cutlasses all of a sudden turn crusaders. Those who play board games & play baby sitter to Nassief kids etc all Neo crusaders today.Wear ur caps proudly LMAOYou know ur hyposelves. Reason DA going nowhere fast.-

  18. Florida Diaspora
    January 25, 2018

    Actually this is called victimization by song. The Christians use to say soon and very soon we are going to see the king well the way things are going soon and very soon skeritt and the gang will make sure that we are well potty trained by telling us when and when not we must eat, sleep, and off course ….

    • We eh ready yet
      January 25, 2018

      Very soon skeritt and the gang will make sure that we are well potty trained by telling us when and when not we must eat, sleep, and off course …. That’s not new it began when Matt settled 4 what we do not know. We just sat idle as a little guy with similarities of a crayfish abled by Some opportunists of varying stripes put this clown in position thinking they had a fool the fool as they thought had his own group with a plan.

  19. Tony
    January 25, 2018

    Hello and good afternoon my people. Well King Dice since you signed a contract you should show up to sing but if the Police come on stage and stop you. Then you fulfill your contractual obligations and let the Carnival Committee hash out the issues with the Police who is a representative of the Government .

  20. jihan
    January 25, 2018

    Dice dont give up my brother this is all political,your Skerrit’s target,Dominica is being ran by a dictator.People open your eyes,your democracy is being challenged by Skerrit.Calypso is about social commentary,you need to get your song on the airwaves in Trinidad and all over on Social Media to let the world know who Skerrit truly is and trying to keep you down,Dominica needs an uprising AND GET Skerrit out.

  21. Sally
    January 25, 2018

    Maybe the song encourages and glorifies looting of people property.

    • Odin
      January 25, 2018

      It doesn’t.
      Please listen to the complete song.

    • Maria DOB Sept 18-2017
      January 25, 2018

      Your current president et al started initiated introduced it in 1979 now it is in Gov’t Mamo is dead ice should ask him.

  22. Peace
    January 25, 2018

    Leave dice alone sing your song

  23. Striking against calypso this year
    January 25, 2018

    King Dice
    Be honest. I think you are a great entertainer as far as Dominica standards and I think you should be allowed to perform but be honest with yourself and the rest of us your songs are always political.

    I would love to listen to calypso that highlight other thinks not about the government, because it shows that all that is going on in Dominica is always politically motivated and we are shallow.

    Why cant we sing about the great things currently in our society, the doctors and nurses who make huge sacrifices. The Dominicans and non-Dominicans who sacrificed everything their lives included to help during and after the hurricane, the students who are excelling and making a difference in our society, the farmers who have been struggling but will not give up.

    This are all great ideas that will make a good calypso, finally Dice why not sing about togetherness and respect for all after the total devastation,
    I cant stand and that is why I will not listen to calypso this…

    • badbaje
      January 25, 2018

      Striking against calypso this year

      From the list of things you ask Dice, and to project further, other Calypsonians NOT to sing about, I can tell you know nothing, or would like to pretend you know nothing about CALYPSO. Social / Political commentary is and has always been the heartbeat of CALYPSO.

    • Derryck
      January 25, 2018

      This is kaiso, social commentary and also in a democratic environment. You or I cannot tell folks what to sing on that would be somewhat dictatorial. If a kaiso is political so be it. It is your prerogative to listen or not, but are there not others whose topics fit your taste. Come on.

    • Bee
      January 25, 2018

      I bet if his calypsos were pro Skerrit and by extension the Labour party you would have sung a different tune yourself.

    • Concerned
      January 25, 2018

      Dice has quite a few positive songs. Know your facts before posting nonsense.

    • pas pues toutes monde aveg
      January 25, 2018

      Striking against calypso this year feel ur pain and understand ur concerns but ur methods and concepts indicate you are wanting as to the concept of calypso in regards to sociology: it’s part of our culture which depicts who & what we are. namely blacks on an island with Karifuna etc who are poor etc confused divided by vultures parasites opportunists. We express our likes dislikes in calypso as we do on DNO with no regard for us as a people a nation .We are being exploited as was done 700 yrs ago the Sinos neo Soviets. Our people even operate for them fraudulently etc. Our leaders continue to sell our rights/passports.(Dicesang about it last few yrs. Nice calypsos so please take time to understand our quagmire or have it explained to you if you fail to comprehend.

    • January 25, 2018

      sounds like u are worse than the govt. If u want to sing about nurses and teachers go right ahead no one would stop u

    • January 26, 2018

      Pls check facts about origin of calypso.

  24. Sad
    January 25, 2018

    This is a sad day in Dominica. People open all you eyes and wake up and smell the coffee.

  25. January 25, 2018

    Since when calypsonians afraid to call names. Who is this someone from the Festival committee who called dice, please let us know DNO. But wait, someone from the immigration office called me and told me that I would not be allowed to leave the island because the authorities don’t want me to leave..lol

  26. king
    January 25, 2018

    dice again again again again again again again again . and again for 2018. big up king dice

  27. Dominica 1st
    January 25, 2018

    Leave de man sing his song please!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

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