A new chapter was written in the history of the calypso art form in Anguilla when a number of calypsonians met on Thursday 26th April to formally establish the Anguilla Calypsonians Association.

Among other agenda items, the calypsonians elected the Association’s first Executive Committee which comprises the following officers: President Steve (Hot Shot) Hodge; Vice President John (The Mighty Springer) Lloyd; Secretary Rebecca (Queen Bee) Webster; Treasurer Jennifer (Singing Jenny) Gumbs and Assistant Sec./Treas. Angela (Singing Angie) Ruan
Nominated Members on the Executive are: Roy (Drak New York) Bryson and Jason (King Gossip) Lloyd.

In addressing the gathering, the President explained that the immediate priorities would be the budget and the negotiation of prizes for this year’s competitions in a friendly and cooperative environment, now that leaders had been elected to represent the calypso community. President Hot Shot thanked the Anguilla Carnival Committee, JeLeCour Productions, the Government of Anguilla, Youth and Culture Department and other persons who had supported the process leading up to the formation of the Association. He acknowledged the strong support of sponsors whose annual inputs are critical to the continued development of calypso in Anguilla and pledged that the calypsonians would be reasonable in all their negotiations.

Fundraising and an upcoming workshop for calypsoninans were also discussed as well as the preparation of music sheets, for which a set of guidelines would be issued by the Calypso sub-Committee. The selection of judges was another matter raised, with the recommendation that Association and the Calypso sub-Committee work together on a mutually agreed policy to govern the selection of judges in the future.
The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Courtney Morton, Chairman of the Anguilla Summer Festival’s Calypso Sub-Committee, who congratulated the newly elected executive and provided information pertaining to the 2007 Summer Festival. He also took the opportunity to begin the registration process for the carnival calypso competitions.

Calypsonians who were not present at the meeting are advised to collect registration forms from the Festivals’ Office at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre as the deadline for registration is Tuesday 15th May.

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