The hunt is on for a satisfactory venue for the Dominica Calypso Association’s hosting of the 2012 Calypso Finals.
Association officials say they have less than one month to find an accommodating location where calypso lovers will be able to enjoy this year’s offerings in the best possible atmosphere.
They are not keen on the Proposed Windsor Park Stadium, which association President Kelly “The Ghost” Williams has described as less than suitable.
“We’ve gone there…it was a negative to us because we know what the patrons want. We’re going to have to put a lot of energy into setting up somewhere else to hold the Calypso Show,” he said.
Questioned about whether the DCA was consulted on the selection of the stadium venue, Williams failed to provide a direct answer, stating that he did not wish to spur any controversy.
He later volunteered however, that “Somebody decided that that was the venue and it doesn’t look good for calypso…whether or not it costs us, it’s the peoples’ money so we trying to …give them the comfort.”
Williams is convinced that the show needs to be staged at a location “that will enhance the competition”.
He has his eye on either the Pottersville Savannah or the Newtown Savannah.
Ideally Williams would like to see a calypso city built in the future to help alleviate this problem.
He told Kairi FM’s the Heng Programme on Friday morning that a certain portion on the Dominica Grammar School Grounds could accommodate such a facility.
The Calypso finals is carded for February 18, 2012.
If they fail to plan, they plan to fail
so whoever should be blamed for that situation.
It is time to decentralize the calypso finals.
There is the Benjamin Park in Portsmouth which can be used for the calypso finals. Check the Portsmouth Town Council for usage permission and conditions.
common ghost(or is it ras kelly) , you r so contravercial. At the DCAs opening you offrnded the sponsors in which Mrs Clarke – meade had a quick intervention and “dilute” your remarks when she spoke after you. Whats the problem with pottersville? the ambience is good, it is central to all, and the goodwill school is a great dress room. Also the sound (acoustic) is great. Ordo u feel u have to pay too much to the Pottersville committee. come on GHOST(definitely not Ras Kelly)
Gassah me self just want to enjoy my Kaiso…too much roro and politicking! Wherever all you decide to have it I will be there. We accustom to hitting de fence and de ladies accustom to stooping down anywhere to peepee…let’s stop with all these silly comments. Kelly and them will find a venue come hell or high water.
Not a big calypso lover…but the DCA shouldn’t bite off more than they can chew. We have venues in Roseau to accommodate the calypso finals. Maybe not as “high-class” as they may want it to be but we have places to keep the show. Its amazing how our people fail to realize the resources we have right in front of us.
Before you reach the stars…you have to build your ship. KEEP BUILDING!!!!!!!
Keep it at Roselie resort compound or La-Plaine it wont only turn out to be te best everbut will stay in the East forever. GUYS! try it all of us will like it.
I think the goodwill school grounds would be the right venue for the finals. They could have them repair the washroom in the school so patrons can relieve themseleves so we can all have a good time.
You are all commenting without understanding the situation. And that is sad.
The DCA is only now having to decide on a suitable venue becasue usually they rent the carnival city venue from the DFC people.
This year they do not think the stadium venue is suitable hence the present situation.
That said, there is no reason to make a mountain out of a molehill.
The new venue will be decided on, the DCA will build its stage and the show will go on!
Chillax! And for God’s sake stop babbling in the absence of information. It’s a really bad habit you guys have!
why…..we accept too much slackness in Dominica so thats why we continue to be rated the poorest in the region..due to lack of visionary focus…
island with far less resources…score the BIG 10..we must never attempt to settle for less and brush off issues…sucks to the F core on this island!
stop being so thin skinned #jussaying#
@WHY: Where was the calypso competition held last year and the two years before that? It has been either the stadium or pottersville. So what is wrong now with the stadium? Is the DFC or whatever it is called now proposing a venue different from these two venues? Are they proposing a smaller portion of the stadium than before?
Are you not hearing that the venue in the stadium “yard” and not in the actual stadium?
Wow!
Maybe it is time for the Calypso Association to consider building a Calypso City to avoid this problem. The City could hold calypso shows year round in order to ensure that calypso is not limited to only carnival season. Whatever became of a calypso competition at Independence? What about junior competitions? Even just regular shows without competition will attract Dominicans. We are a calypso loving people, we will go to any and every calypso show. This is an art form that is appreciated by the majority of Dominicans, and the association should certainly invest in building a permanent city.
Set up a museum in the city – have old shows running on TV, souvenirs, CDs, workshops, karaoke – let us invest in a Calypso City.
That would not be good for the authorities because Calypso pays a huge chunk of their total expenses. Do you know how much the Association pay to rend the Carnival City? And do you know how long the Asssociation has been fighting to break away from the local orgarnizing committee? I ask that you get the facts before you speak…always…please!
Dealing calypso and tourism is too much for Ghost who want to control both at a peak time
This is poor planning after a whole year to prepare for an event.Come on Ghost we deserve better
in Dominica every thing have too much political, why there is so much s-it in everything in Dominica;COME ON MAN!!Calypso is one of the most viable business in Dominica,this should have been adress years ago.anyway i will give the boys some leway, because it’s poor people project and i want them to get it good;keep working Ghost;goodluck i wish you well.
Idyllic is the Stadium with all facilities. All u too ghetto! time to step up the venues!
CALYPSO FINALS IS LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AWAY
WHY A VENUE IS NOT CHOSEN? YOU ALL SHOULD
NOT BE WAITNG ON THE LAST MINUTE TO GET THINGS DONE.
They were only informed last week about venue availability. Do not try to pass blame on the DCA.
Well this is a good lesson to show that there is no discussion. He was TOLD not discussed with. He try to put Curtis Matthew in the bad light when he should have amitted that the way in which it was shoved upon him is not a democratic way. Then he saying he not playing politics when if he wasn’t he would have answered Curtis in a more respectful way
listen dominica. i dont care where you have it i bought my ticket to come down already .
Kelly, my friend… you guys are jokers… didn’t you guys think of a venue before debting the organization with that travesty you guys built in bath estate and call it calypso association building… you need to spend more time – than just calypso season on all things calypso, my brother. I’m really beginning to question the direction of calypso on your watch… no independence competition, nothing happening for calypsonians beyond february… c’mon.
Kelly boy please think of d old grannies dat luv d casio 2. We want 2 sit in d stadium well comfi 2 u no. D creole festival was so nice with d grannies seating in d stadium! Please think again u hear Mr. Kelly, please please, merci.
This topic just gave me a lead for my calypso for this year. Eliminations here I come!
pottersville is the best spot for the show. Creole festival used to be so good whenit was held in pottersvile.
What were the members of the DCA doing for the past months?? Less than a month away from finals and there is no set venue?? Shame on the DCa, you guys should be replaced. Start planning from the week after carnival and work year round, you will get better results.
Dear Candid,
If I must be candid with you, you are way over your head with that comment. The DCA does not decide of the venue for Carnival City, it is the Government/Carnival authorities job to so do. We actually rent the venue to stage our shows, but this time around, the location does not meet with our expectation. This is why we are proposing to host the show elsewhere. All our calypsonians are prepared; songs written, arrange, produced and recorded, music scores written and calypsonians rehearsed. The tents are opening next week, the eliminations is on Sunday, the quarter finals and semi finals are scheduled (Jan 21 & February 4, 2012), but we do not have control over the venue for the finals. So please redirect your comments and get ready for a massive year of calypso.
Thanks
Mr. Calypso, be that as it may, these issues should have been addresses with the relevant authorities months ago. You have been involved with staging the event for too long to talking about a venue for the finals at this late stage. If you do not see anything wrong with this situation, something is seriously wrong with you and the organization.
Poor excuse. They could have been in dialogue with the powers that be and not waiting last minute to hear where the venue is. IT IS CALLED PLANNING
asterik…I dont think you guys are getting that it is you who is panicking. There is no panic from the DCA.
It is a simple matter of identifying a venue and proceeding accordingly.
You would think all you would be happy that the DCA has chosen not to subject YOU the patrons to an inadequate venue for the show that they recognise you love so much!
question…did the calypso association ever pay DCA for use of the grounds and stage in pottersville last year? The answer will surprise everyone…
all I will say is when some people owe you they try to create a problem to avoid paying you. i know for a fact the stadium have more space, more toilets, no VIP in the middle to block our view, no mud if it rains, no ugly containers in the entrance, no pataulins on fence, more entrance and exit. So what make this venue unsuitable?
We had the last calypso finals not last month but since last year and yet the president is lamenting that they only have one month to get a suitable venue. Was the entire association out of state for the past year? Apparently calypso is not their business, yet they always seem to think that they are the only ones who can govern the business of calypso. Like Val “Young Bull’s” new song says “We celebrating mediocrity”. A whole year to plan cramped into one month. To add to that the incompetent president shys from addressing the situation because he claims he doesn’t want to spur controversy. Controversy apparently can be only spurred to affect a select few.
Some of you people don’t seem to listen attentively or read carefully. The Calypso Association rents the venue from the Carnival Development Committee. This year the committee will be hosting the carnival activities in the stadium, therefore it would mean that the calypso association would be renting the stadium from the carnival development committee. However, the DCA does not believe that the stadium is an ideal location for calypso….
It does not matter to me, I’m a calypso lover and wherever there is calypso, I will follow.
Anonymous,
And it’s not even the ‘stadium’ that is the venue. It is in front the stadium. I think that is what people are not getting.
Is that a reflection on the president of the DCA, in 2012 we have a national stadium, all other countries use their national stadium for big events like these, what is wrong with the stadium that it cant be used,or is this a sabotage attempt by the festival commission to take over calypso? why is everything going wrong in Dominica, we need to search for the ginks in our midst
NEWTOWN SAVANNAH ppppppppllllllllllllllzzzzzzzzz
MR.Kelly “GHOST Williams
newtown savannah is ok just divert the vehicle , vehicle going into town divert to back street kinghill, coming out of town will use victoria street , areas should be cleared fro, savannah – citronier only residential alone.
Check Crazy he’ll be happy. He always have bright ideas
Ok, so whats wrong with the Stadium venue? I can’t think of another venue which will add to “comfort”. I guess along the lines of comfort, protection from the weather, decent seating, good toilet facilities and convenient and various food and drink options, as well as relatively hassle free entry and exit as available in the stadium is not good enough.
My dear! The stadium is not the venue for carnival…it is OUTSIDE the stadium. Chew on that.
So they now realized that carnival is next month?
I dunno why these people don’t try to get a jump on things than to be scrambling with time running out on them. Same foolishness every year.
We had the last calypso finals not last month but since last year and yet the president is lamenting that they only have one month to get a suitable venue. Was the entire association out of state for the past year? Apparently calypso is not their business yet they always seem to think that they are the only ones who can govern the business of calypso. Like Val “Young Bull’s” new son “We celebrating mediocrity”. A whole year to plan cramped into one month. To add to that the incompetent president shys from addressing the situation because he claims he doesn’t want to spur controversy. Controversy apparently can be only spurred to affect a select few.
Do folks on Dominica really understand any sort of basic issues in terms of foward planning etc, is their any qualified personel on that island who knows what standards are…what a shame
in this modern day where tech is at a high level Dominicans think way sloggish and a complete re-birth of slavery..
where is the focus level Dominica sounds like a island where things suddenly fall out of the sky kinda mind set, dont they know that was a cause for concern many years ago.
why now at this stage..where they is no vision the people perish thats a factual and honouray Degree placed on the Commonwealth of Dominica Period!
I think NEWTOWN has the better ambiance than the dusty pottersville savannah>
Those of you who are oldish enough could remember that a CALYPSO show FINALS was help @ NEWTOWN after hurricane David and it went down very well.
Please note that the Newtown Savannah is well secured and its quite a popular venue, properly lighted and absoultely no complaints.
I beleieve that the DCA will save alot of money and it will be easier to host the Finals , quarter finals and semi finals there.
Space is not an issue there is more than enough room.
ITS JUST RETURNING TO THE home of carnival in newtown.
Could you explain where are you going to park the many vehicles that would be in for the venue?
And what kind of toilets and wash basin does Newtown have?
Do you all know that it is the large open area in the yard of the stadium along Bath Road and River Road that is being transformed into Carnival City?
It will provide sheltered stands as well as open ‘woulay’ jump up space. Close to central Roseau and Goodwill. Parking all over the place. Vehicles will not be blocking Victoria Street in traffic jam for hours.
I think the new ‘Stadium Yard’ venue is a great idea!
You must be connected to the decision making where that is concerned.
The DCA is concerned about the comfort of its PATRONS. Are you?
when were the patrons ask about their comfort. was a poll taken? some of us are just afraid of change
Given the magnitude of the crowd and considering setting up of bars, etc. the Newtown Savannah would be too small. The stadium would be good for persons who would like to sit and enjoy the show instead of standing for so many hours.