Chalkdust: Uriah Butler was linked to TT’s artistes

Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell, left speaks with calypsonian and academic Dr Hollis
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell, left speaks with calypsonian and academic Dr Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool on Thursday, after being presented with a copy of Liverpool's book God, the Press, and Uriah Butler. PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND THE ARTS - PHOTO COURTESY MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND THE ARTS

CALYPSO veteran and academic Dr Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool believes trade unionist Uriah “Buzz” Butler played a critical role in shaping TT’s culture and feels his work in the oilfields can and must be linked to this country’s culture and artforms.

According to a media release from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Liverpool visited minister Randall Mitchell at his office on Thursday and presented him with a copy of his book God, the Press, and Uriah Butler.

According to the release, during the visit Liverpool spoke briefly on the topics covered in the book which include Butler’s links to culture. He also noted that Butler was “a cultural man” as he sought to dispel misconceptions surrounding the former trade unionist.

The book is a historical account of Butler’s life and experiences using what Liverpool described as “ top-down and bottom-up approaches of historical writing.”

In the release, Liverpool said historians overlooked a crucial link between calypsonians of that era and the trade union movement on the oilfields and believed calypso was an major platform as “emails to the people.”

In the release, Mitchell said the book gave Butler more depth as a historical figure by offering readers the opportunityu to see him as more than just a trade union leader.

“This might seem like a historical text but it’s much more than that. It’s the preservation, accurate and contextual account of a man whose contribution goes beyond the trade union movement.”

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"Chalkdust: Uriah Butler was linked to TT’s artistes"

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