Devant: Govt trying to stifle Massive

The withdrawal of state funds that caused the cancellation of this year’s Soca Chutney Monarch competition was a deliberate step to try to stifle artiste Nermal “Massive” Gosein, an entrant whose controversial song Rowlee Mudda Count threatens to become an anti-government anthem, alleged former minister Devant Maharaj.

“The Government is prepared to kill a fly with a sledgehammer,” Maharaj told Newsday yesterday. “The Government is wary that Massive’s song becomes a war-cry going into the Local Government election and general election.”

As evidence of his allegation, Maharaj cited both the otherwise ample spending by the state-run National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) and the State’s chiding of Gosine especially through recent statements by the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT.)

“Cancellation of the Chutney Soca Monarch is the heavy hand of the State to squelch political expression and freedom of artistic expression,” hit Maharaj. “It’s a bigger issue than just the content of a song.” He wondered why songs such as that by Ras Kommanda have not likewise prompted TATT’s ire.

Maharaj then contrasted a lack of funding for chutney to the NLCB’s $146 million sponsorship of Carnival, including $10 million for toilets.

“So chutney can’t even get the same funding as toilets.”

“This is not discrimination against Indians or chutney, but a political flexing against an expression that is contrary to the political directorate.”

Maharaj contrasted the NLCB’s cut to chutney with their other expenditures.

Maharaj said state-run TATT is giving radio stations a veiled threat not to play Gosein’s song, saying, “Businessmen on radio stations don’t want to lose their licences.” He hit the Copyright Organisation of TT (COTT) for supporting TATT’s recent statement, saying TATT was restricting the earning capacity of COTT’s members.