Valdeen Shears-Neptune
Calypsonian Gypsy (Winston Peters), a former People’s Partnership minister, who braved a barrage of toilet paper from the crowds at Skinner Park, San Fernando, during his performance at Calypso Fiesta, overcame that challenge to secure a spot in next Sunday’s National Calypso Monarch finals.
Peters, who sang in position 30, was met with jeers and raised rolls of toilet paper, when he made his appearance on the stage at Skinner Park, San Fernando, shortly after 7 pm on Saturday.
In a performance that included extempo lines, Peters delivered a strong rendition of his selection Too Many which dealt with negative attitudes in society. The jeers from the crowd quickly turned into cheers for the veteran bard, who is a former National Calypso Monarch and has also held the extempo title.
Another controversial contestant who has made it into the finals is Skatie (Carlos James) who had been disqualified from the competition by the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation (Tuco). Tuco had removed Skatie from the semi-finals because had not been able to prove he had paid the $100 registration fee, a pre-requisite of the competition at the preliminary stage. However, Skatie filed for judicial review and High Court Judge Nadia Kangaloo ruled in his favour hours before the start of the show on Saturday.
Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins), who is also in the finals, delivered his calypso, Advice to the Boss, directly to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, cautioning him to stay clear of the former Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration and their methods of governance. Dr Rowley, dressed in a red striped T-shirt and blue jeans, could be seen mingling in the crowd at the show, enjoying the performances and shaking hands with supporters. Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was also among patrons at Calypso Fiesta.
The show, which begun under the blazing noon sun, ended well after 8 pm with a capacity crowd in attendance.
The finalists
Four former title holders are among the 11 calypsonians who will challenge reigning National Calypso Monarch Roderick “Chuck” Gordon at Dimanche Gras on Carnival Sunday night. They are Chalkdust, Cro Cro, Gypsy and Karene Asche. Newly-crowned Young King Helon Francis is also among the finalists.
They are:
Chalkdust (Dr Hollis Liverpool)
Heather McIntosh
Devon Seale
Helon Francis
Karene Asche
Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins)
Gypsy (Winston Peters)
Skatie (Carlos James)
Queen Victoria (Victoria Cooper-Rahim)
Lady Adanna (Marsha Clifton)
Mistah Shak (Selvon Noel)
Reserve: Brian London