DEXTER RIGSBY
THE RECENT dispute between ragga soca artiste Ian Alvarez (Bunji Garlin) and the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (TUCO), where Road March updates were provided to the media by a tabulator, is unfortunate. This led to Alvarez, supported by his soca artiste wife Fay-Ann, vowing to stay out of future Road March competitions.
The incident, which appears to have been unnecessarily amplified, highlights the archaic process currently employed for identifying a Road March winner. Incredibly, on both Carnival days, TUCO officials were still required to physically count the number of times a song was played at every competition venue to produce the results of the competition.
Moreover, DJs are still the ones who determine the Road March winner. They often play the soca songs they like or the one they may be 'influenced' to play, which is not necessarily the popular choice of the revellers/masqueraders for whom they were hired to entertain.
A more progressive process would see DJs as facilitators of music while the masqueraders dictate what should be played. The evolved judging system must be impartial, reliable, secure and able to provide results quickly. In short, the process must be largely computerised for greater efficiency and overall effectiveness.
Consequently, the following judging system and process for selecting future Road March winners are proposed for TUCO's consideration:
TUCO's basic requirements
* Internet access.
* A robust server dedicated to hosting a new Road March website and online system with cloud storage access for contingency/back-up purposes.
* At least one proficient software developer and web designer to develop and maintain the online system, including its website and associated app, according to detailed specifications.
* A skilled network analyst or administrator to manage the server and cloud storage.
(The above IT professionals may also be referred to regarding more granular details than this initiative presents.)
Bandleader basic requirements
* Internet access.
* Each Carnival bandleader is to provide a code (likely numerical) to every masquerader upon full purchase of a costume. One code per costume to accommodate voting.
* A server or robust desktop computer or laptop with adequate storage to interact with TUCO's online system via website or app for forwarding all official codes, and to obtain voting results/information specific to each Carnival band.
Masquerader (user) requirements
* Internet access.
* Desktop computer or laptop or mobile phone to access TUCO's Road March online system via website or app for the purpose of voting.
The general process
* A masquerader named Judy purchases a costume from the Carnival band of her choice and receives a 12-digit code with her costume. The code will facilitate voting for one's choice of Road March and can only be used once in TUCO's online Road March system. Each bandleader will have codes unique to his/her band. For example, a code from the Harts ban
