Promoter apologises to Gypsy

Michael Mondezie mmondezie@trinidadexpress.com
Tuesday, July 17th 2007

Calypso promoter Randy Glasgow has issued a public apology to United National Congress party member Winston "Gypsy" Peters for the "distasteful" crowd response he received at the Political Calypso Monarch Competition earlier this month.

"We want to apologise to Gypsy. No one should have to endure that and I felt the judges should have given him another chance to perform his song," Glasgow said during a phone interview yesterday.

Patrons booed and jeered Gypsy when he made his appearance at the final on July 7 at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo.

Gypsy, however, took it all in stride and soldiered on with his performance of "This Is My Land".

Glasgow said calypso fans in general needed to be more receptive and give each performer their chance and space.

"We know Trinidadians are fair people, but they didn't give him an opportunity on that night. It wasn't a nice thing to do to Gypsy," Glasgow said.

"People were saying Gypsy kind of answer them and it was a give and take, but we feel Trinidadians are mature enough and they know where to cut it."

Although Glasgow's apology comes a full week after the event, he says it is neither too late nor a trigger response to Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams' recent comments on the issue.

"Ours is an independent statement," Glasgow said.

Yuille-Williams reportedly voiced her concern over the issue during a radio interview on Friday. She called the incident distasteful and said the event's organisers should work to ensure there is not a repeat.

Dey fockin lie and have no shame. How the fockin patrons end up wid Balisier in dey hand to wave at Gypsy when he was performing.

Yuh doh geh Balisier dong in the fockin swamp in Mucurapo. Yuh does find it in the bush and some ole nigga had to organise and cut them and bring dem for the fockin teeves from laventille to wave when the man was singing.

People aint fockin dotish yuh know.

One whole fockin week Glasgow take to fockin apoligise. Anyhow Im sure he geh money from Joan to host the fockin competition.

So wa yuh expect?