TTT Limited will be taking the lead in bringing fair play to the airwaves.
On Tuesday, TTT Limited Chairman Michael Kerr laid out his plans to remove power from what he calls the “cultural suppression mafia.”
Speaking on the Next 99.1 frequency, Mr. Kerr reminded that as a State Enterprise, TTT Limited belongs to taxpayers. He said this means that there should be no suppression of culture, opinion, and free speech, hence the creation of the Fair Play Campaign.
“The culture belongs to the people and not to the cultural mafia. Who is to dictate what is good and is not good? The people themselves will tell you what they like, what they want to hear, who are their artistes but the fact that when you keep giving them one thing and less options it seems as though you are not doing anything to benefit the culture itself.”
Chairman Kerr noted that music to the artiste is not just a song or piece or lines of music; it is a lifeline, an income generator, and sometimes a way out of poverty.
“The music itself for young aspiring artistes is that opportunity to change their lives. Let’s say they may not be academically inclined, they may not be set in a trade, but their love and their passion that they have for the music—it’s an avenue that allows them to perhaps come out, change their financial circumstances, and what have you. So it means a lot, and when something means a lot to people, we need to respect that.”
Mr. Kerr said this means for Carnival and beyond, TTT Limited will ensure that there is fair play on the airwaves.
Trinidad and Tobago, he noted, breaks more new artistes from other islands than it does actual local artistes, and this needs to change.
He said that to aid the creation of this space, TTT Limited will begin its Fair Play Campaign during its annual and much-anticipated signature event, the Pavement Lime, which now gets a new addition.
“We will be hitting the road, so we’re going to have the Next 99.1 FM Carnival Pavement Lime Caravan. So we’re talking about Mayaro, Moruga, Siparia, the East–West Corridor. As long as time permits, you know, we might combine, like for example, Tunapuna, St. Joseph, St. Augustine. They will have it. They will have it in Sangre Grande and different areas, Port of Spain, North and South. So we’re going to the people, we’re taking that talent, and there are people who live in those areas who are going to represent and have the opportunity to shine.”
Chairman Kerr said that details of the campaign will be released to the public soon, so all young artistes should start sharpening their skills to be the next big star.