President of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco) Lutalo Masimba says calypsonians are happy with the return of the Calypso Monarch final to Dimanche Gras. He said that is exactly what they had asked for. The decision was announced by National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Allison Demas last week at the launch of Carnival 2014.
Last year, the Calypso Monarch finals took place on the Thursday before Carnival. Masimba said the NCC had been looking for an event for Dimanche Gras night and Tuco had offered the finals of its competition. “We were responding to a vibration from calypsonians and the general calypso-loving public,” he said, adding that the public preferred the final to be staged on Carnival Sunday.
“It is still a Tuco event and it still maintains its integrity,” Masimba said when asked if there would be changes to the format. “Tuco will do what it can in terms of marketing the art form and tents, calypsonians must do their best to market themselves.”