Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has dismissed claims that calypso is being censored, saying instead that the art form has suffered over the years due to internal division and negativity.
“Sorry to break this news to my loving and dedicated haters but NO one has to censor calypso because over the years, political stooges masquerading as calypsonians censored calypso themselves by alienating the majority of the population with their hateful diatribes.”
In a statement following the 2026 Calypso Monarch finals, the Prime Minister said no one needs to censor calypso, arguing that some performers, whom she described as politically driven, alienated large sections of the population through divisive messaging. She contrasted this with the continued popularity of soca, noting that fetes sell out by the thousands from January straight through to Carnival Tuesday, while calypso tents struggle to attract audiences.
Mrs Persad-Bissessar said many citizens have moved on from what she described as hostility and political bitterness, choosing instead music that promotes enjoyment, unity, and happiness.
She praised singers such as Terri Lyons and Yung Bredda, crediting them with helping to preserve and modernise calypso by grounding their music in social consciousness and real-life experiences.
The Prime Minister offered congratulations to Terri Lyons, who captured the 2026 Calypso Monarch title, describing her winning performance as emotional, inspiring, and unifying. She urged the public to celebrate the achievement, rather than, in her words, chasing conspiracies to advance political agendas.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader has strongly condemned the Prime Minister’s comments, describing her social media post as offensive, and deeply insensitive to the calypso fraternity and the nation’s cultural history.
She argues that calypso is a vital historical art form rooted in resistance and social commentary, and says recent events surrounding Calypso Monarch 2026 point to political overreach and mismanagement.
The Opposition Leader is calling for urgent consultation with cultural stakeholders and has demanded that the Prime Minister retract her remarks and issue a public apology to the calypso community and the wider population.
