The Solidarity Fund set up by MASA in 2010 to support artists has become controversial. If Ras Natty Baby claims that he is entitled to a ‘pension’, Gerard Louis – the president of MASA states for his part, that no criteria allow him to honor the request of the seggaeman for the moment.
Ras Natty Baby turned 60 in 2014. At that time, he thought he would get a ‘pension’ from MASA. 7 years later, the artist is still waiting: “In 2010, MASA introduced a solidarity fund where each artist contributes part of his royalties. The objective is that we receive a royalty at retirement age. I am now 67 years old and unlike other artists I never got anything despite several requests to MASA. I therefore request the dismissal of Gerard Louis as president of MASA”.
For his part, Gerard Louis asks for more time: “I understand the frustration of Ras Natty Baby. But MASA must be given time. I am the president of MASA in October 2020. In September 2021 Michael Veeraragoo took over as director and I immediately asked him to get this issue in order. Which he did and on February 10 a subcommittee was established.”
This subcommittee will have two priorities: “It will have to review the eligibility criteria without which we cannot proceed with the payment of this fee. Then, it will have to find a way to make the fund’s cash flow grow. This has never been done since its operation in 2010.
Commenting on the words of Ras Natty Baby on his resignation, Gerard Louis retorts: “I wonder why he did not ask for the resignation of my predecessors. Unlike my predecessors, I am asking for more time for the funds to be shared fairly and according to the established criteria.
