ShowDown Mas Camp Calypso Tent is a ‘no-show’ for 2018 due to financial constraints say organizers

​ShowDown Mas Camp Calypso Tent is a ‘no-show’ for 2018, due to serious financial constraints, according to organizers. Show Down Mas Camp has been a frontline calypso tent over the years, and has always featured leading calypsos and calypsonians at the calypso final competitions. Tent Director Pat Aaron said clearly we don’t have the financial resources to host any Tent this year, but a series of roadside events will be held instead”. He added, “When the calypsonians songs are recorded, they will bring it to the roadside for the people, and we will ask for a donation to support the artist.”
 
Aaron denied rumors that the passage of Hurricane Maria is the reason behind the decision to scrap the show this year. He said, “Last year was a bad one for us financially, and from the time we were put out of Harlem Plaza and built the structure on the grounds of the Public Service Union (PSU), we never recovered from that. Since then, we have been struggling to maintain over the past three to four years, and we have now reached the point where we had to take a decision, based on what we have”.
 
He contends that the tent helped Mas Camp Artistes to showcase their talent, and that was the main reason for hosting it. Meanwhile, Aaron refused to get drawn into speculations that the absence of “Mas Camp” will have some impact on Artistes like Dice and Bobb. He said, “They are experienced and seasoned artistes, and I don’t see this having any serious or negative impact on them”.
 
As regards the 2018 calypsos, Aaron said, “I have not heard many songs besides Jay Dee, but I will be in a better position to comment after the quarterfinals.” Aaron would not comment about what can be expected from King Dice for whom he has been writing for many years, except to say, “wait till Saturday at the quarterfinals, I will not let the cat out of the bag.”