Marlon ‘Malo' Webster, Geoffrey ‘Mighty Rebel' Phillips and Michelle ‘Big Red' King might be among the best and most popular entertainers in Guyana with international experience, but apparently not big enough for ‘Uncle Sam'.
In less than a month, they have all, individually, been turned down by United States Embassy officials who told them that they do not have “enough ties to Guyana to be granted a visa.”
In response to invitations to perform at the Queens, New York ‘Guyana Day' billed for May 20, they made individual applications.
Noting that Guyana has no major intellectual property rights, it is widely believed by local musicians that the real financial and economical development depends heavily on international exposure.
Several entertainers are now calling on local authorities to intervene and work out arrangements for them to be able to travel to the USA to perform as cultural ambassadors.
Phillips, who is the reigning Calypso Monarch, got his invitation and applied on April 16. He thought his chances were greater as he had eight prior US visas dating back to the 80s, but he was dead wrong.
He, however, has not lost faith as he will make a final attempt to get to perform for US-based Guyanese some time soon.
Somewhat annoyed, he said, “I'm a TV Talk Show host; I own a taxi service; I have my own house and land and my entire family is in Guyana . My bank account is in Guyana . Why would I want to stay in America at age 61? He is emphatic that ‘someone eye pass Guyanese entertainers'.
MALO'S EXPERIENCE
‘Malo' Webster reported that last Wednesday he went to the US Embassy confident that his status as Soca Monarch, plus a few other ‘ties' like his recently signed three-year Digicel contract, would help.
“They said that I don't have enough ties to Guyana to be granted a visa.”
His manager, Jonathan Beepat, expressed disappointment as ‘Malo' would be unable to perform for the Guyanese community in New York .
“This performance could have increased his chances at a possible record deal.”
“I'm a bit disappointed because I've waited a long time to perform in the USA and now that isn't any closer to materialising,” Webster said.
He added, “I believe that there should be some allowance for entertainers to be granted special visas,” the Digicel-endorsed entertainer said.
He recently returned to Guyana after performing at the 2007 Fire Fete in Toronto , Canada , and is scheduled to return to perform on May 19 for the Canada Soca Storm. As an entertainer, his travels have also seen him performing in Barbados .
The 2006 Soca Monarch runner-up and professional singer, Michelle ‘Big Red' King's experience of visa denial came a little less than two weeks ago. “They told me the same thing - not enough ties to prove that I would return to Guyana ,” King said
“This I find a bit worrying, because I was in the USA last year for the same show and I returned, without hassle.” She said that she got the invitation to be part of the show once again and “now I don't have the ties…can you believe this? I'm disappointed because all I wanted to do was use the opportunity to show what Guyana has and create opportunities for myself and other artistes to enter the international market.”