Divas Calypso Cabaret International, the country's only all-female calypso tent, managed by Dr Rudolph Ottley, had an impressive opening night on Wednesday night.
Based at De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp) in Woodbrook, the premiere was graced by the presence of Community Development, Culture & the Arts minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste Primus.
The formal prelude to the actual programme of performances was hosted by consultant/career coach Anthony Watkins who also gave the opening invocation.
The Divas tent has dedicated its entire 2017 season to Calypso Rose, who is up for a French Grammy in a few days.
In his address, Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco) president Lutalo Masimba (Bro Resistance) continued in the same vein he waxed warmly in the previous week at the opening of the Klassic Ruso calypso tent.
He warned that the administration "trying to buss we head," referring to cuts in allocation to the calypsonians organisation and other issues.
Adding "we are in a state of war," Masimba again advised the culture minister to address the issues of music piracy, the small percentage of calypso music on the airwaves and the scarcity of performing spaces nationwide for the arts.
"We must find a way to embrace the power of the calypsonian," Masimba ended.
Hinting that better things are coming for the calypso art form, Gadsby Dolly called Calypso Rose "the quintessential woman of calypso."
She added: "Rose is a story of the journey of women in calypso."
The minister urged patrons gathered to "love the art form, love the country, for the benefit of the country."
She also complimented Ottley for creating a maintaining a space for female calypsonians for the 14 years since the tents beginning.
Gadsby Dolly was presented with a token of appreciation by Ottley at the end of her short address.
In his address, Ottley traced the genesis of Divas Calypso Cabaret International and the involvement of women in carnival, and subsequently calypso, since the 19th century.
He said that he decided to form the tent upon realising that there was limited space in the established calypso tents for young, aspiring calypsonians.
Addressing Masimba, Ottley said: "Tuco needs to embark on the conscious mission that young calypsonians be included in all calypso tents.
"Something seems to be blocking young calypsonians from calypso tents, the only avenue for bringing them into calypso.
"The role of Divas Calypso Cabaret International is to inspire young, female calypsonians."
Ottley made a plea for a significant increase in the involvement of the corporate sector in supporting calypso.
A number of the tent's cast performed songs by Calypso Rose and among its cast were former Calypso Queen Karen Eccles, Stacey Sobers, Atlanta calypso monarch Empress Natty, Meguella Simon, Rae Ann Guerra and Jonnelle Manwaring.
Divas Calypso Cabaret International has a tight and compact programme that is emceed by Point Fortin comedienne Gillian Smith.
The tent is at its home base on Wednesday and Thursday each week, and at Kaiso Blues Cafe, 85 Woodford Street, Newtown on Fridays.
A number of road shows to rural communities are also planned.