From l-r: Jean-Michel Gibert (Rose's Manager), Culture Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly,Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, Calypso Rose (Ronald Mendoza Photography)
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said award-winning calypsonian Calypso Rose has broken the proverbial glass ceiling through her global success.
Speaking at a workshop held at the National Academy of Performing Arts, Port of Spain, last Friday, Gopee-Scoon said Rose, whose real name is McArthur Linda Sandy Lewis, "is an outstanding example of a Calypsonian who has excelled and shattered the proverbial glass ceiling in the process."
"She made her way into the calypso fraternity, at a time when this art form was primarily male nominated, and became the first female Road March winner and the first woman to win the Calypso Monarch title. She also copped the Calypso Queen title for five consecutive years from 1972 to 1977," Gopee-Scoon said.
"The Government of Trinidad and Tobago appreciates and understands the social, cultural and economic importance of Calypso Music to our nation and beyond."
"Calypso Rose, in collecting her French Grammy, signalled that Calypso was not limited to any country, any language, any culture, or any gender. Indeed, this Government remains fully committed to the development of the Creative Sector of which music, indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago, is a key component."
"In fact, this facility, the National Academy for the Performing Arts, is testament to our Government’s vision to diversify the economy through investment in infrastructure to bolster the Creative Industry."
'In order to succeed, small and medium enterprises in the Music Industry must have greater access to financial support."
"The Ministry of Trade and Industry, for instance, has been working with the World Bank to establish a Secured Transaction and Collateral Registry where movable property would serve as collateral. By that I mean non-traditional assets such as equipment can be used as collateral."
"Another area which needs strengthening is that of intellectual property. Those wanting to make a career in the Music Industry, including songwriters, singers and producers must therefore be well-versed with assessing the value of their intellectual property and must use mechanisms to protect these assets to ensure their rightful income streams."
According to Price Waterhouse Coopers, revenue from the global music industry is expected to grow from 42.93 billion USD in 2015 to just over 47.7 billion in 2020.
Gopee-Scoon said Trinidad and Tobago’s bourgeoning Music Industry is therefore not only critical to the preservation of the culture but also to the country’s sustainable development.
Production, sound engineering, composing, recording and publishing were highlighted as viable career choices.
Also referenced was a 2016 report by the Inter–American Development Bank (IDB) which listed the creative arts as an industry with the potential for the highest employment in Trinidad and Tobago along with fields such as medicine and engineering, according to data from the University of the West Indies….
For the full and original article posted by LoopTT on February 21st 2017, click here.