The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Calypsonians Association has agreed to a new judging framework for the national calypso monarch and is pressing for changes in how results are compiled, President Earl “Cabba” Bennett says.
Speaking at an SVG Calypsonians Association press conference for Vincymas 2026, Bennett said the new criteria have been submitted to the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) for approval.
“We have seen it as an association to look and review the criteria for scoring this year to give it a lot more clarity,” Bennett said.
“It does not differ much, but it has clarity. It is broken down into sub-elements, and that [is]… for the adjudicators, because it becomes more friendly.”
He said the review team included Janelle Allen, Marlon Nanton-James, Andrea Gaymes-Mohess, Cleve Scott, Willis Williams and Lennox Bowman.
“I’m pleased to announce to you that the association has agreed on a new scoring [criterion],” Bennett said. “The association has submitted it to the CDC.”
Bennett also announced that the association wants a different results tabulation process at preliminaries, semi-finals and finals.
“Normally, the adjudication… somebody from the CDC as a liaison will take up the score sheet and carry it to the auditor, who will then input it into the computer and come out with the final results,” he said.
“This year, the tents and association have decided that the judges will tally the scores, and then the auditor… will do his or her auditing job to confirm or to verify that the scores are correct.
“So that is another change, in my opinion, in the right direction. Some persons will have different opinions, but this is the decision of the Calypsonians Association.”
Bennett reminded patrons that while calypso tents fall under the association, they remain operationally independent.
“Yes, they are governed by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Calypsonians Association, but they have the autonomy to run their show how they see it fit, once they do it under the ambit and the rules and regulations of the Calypsonians Association.”
Bennett said tent leaders have been “out early” this year, pressing for stronger promotion from the CDC.
“They have been asking for marketing tools. They have been at the CDC requesting early ads,” he said, adding that both sides recognise “there is a difference between advertisement and marketing”.
He framed the reforms and the promotional drive as part of a wider effort to protect the art form and its role in national life.
“We recognise that we need to reach out to the people… They are the ones we have to please. They are the ones that have the voice, and we are the voice of the people,” Bennett said.