GOVERNMENT is pumping $7 million into calypso this year.

But the majority of the money is going to the Trinbago Unified Calypso Organisation (TUCO) for their calypso tents across the country.

This was revealed by Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams to Sunday PUNCH after she official opened the Calypso Revue at the SWWTU Hall on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain last Thursday night.

But while the Culture Ministry is handing out the funds to TUCO to run their tents for the Calypso season, other calypso tents are getting “small change”, according to officials of the Calypso Revue.

“Ah hope we will get a bigger share of that $7
million for calypso,” could be what SUGAR
ALOES (second from right) is saying to
Culture Minister JOAN YUILLE-WILLIAMS
at the official opening of the Calypso
Revue recently. From right are PINK
PANTHER and Revue manager
SONNY WOODLEY.

These two sexy dancing puppets
drew laughter from the crowd.

Commissioner of Police TREVOR PAUL (right),
his wife, and Fire Chief LENNOX ALFRED
seem amused with the acts of the “rude”
puppets.

Revue management Sugar Aloes and Skatie denied that their tent is benefiting from any large sums of money from the government.

“We are just getting advertisements and a little chance here and there.

“Up to now we have got no money from the ministry,” said Skatie.

In a response Yuille-Williams said: “Don’t worry with them, they are getting funds.”

Yuille-Williams, who officially opened the Revue told a large number of invited guests: “It is the time for management to take the Revue to a higher level of operation.

“In this light, there should be a firm commitment by the management and the calypsonians in general, to charter a path for the Revue beyond the Carnival season.”

“There is no reason why the Revue cannot become a multi-faceted business unit.

“You have a human resource base which could be trained for job opportunities and you can create readily available markets coming out of your Carnival activities,” she noted.

“You also have access to funding and expert guidance from the ministry,” Yuille-Williams added.

Among the many guests who attended were Justice Malcolm Holdip, Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul and his wife, Snr. Supt. Errol Denoon, his wife, Amber, and Attorney Theodore Guerra SC.

The Revue boasts of top class entertainers including Pink Panther, Skatie, Sugar Aloes, Organiser, Bally, Sexy Suzie and Presenter, who all received encores.