Donning his red T-shirt and matching bandanna, prolific composer/veteran calypsonian Winston Scarborough (De Fosto) burst into the Guardian newsroom on Wednesday. As he greeted all and sundry, Scarborough gushed over his latest tribute to Anya Ayoung-Chee. Once again, Ayoung-Chee placed T&T and the Caribbean on the map when she copped the Project Runway 2011 title. He carried CDs of the eponymous Anya which bore the signature arrangement of musical genius Sir Leston Paul. Settling down slightly, Scarborough said: "I wore red for Anya. Anya is an inspiration. She has always been an inspiration... even when she was a beauty queen." Having followed the Project Runway prelims, Scarborough said he was impressed Ayoung-Chee learned to sew in four months.
Scarborough added: "Can you imagine, she took four months to learn to sew. She had a burning desire to learn to sew. That was one aspect of getting it done. T&T has seen what she did in such a short space of time." Shelving aside her dressmaking skills, Scarborough trained his thoughts on her admirable showing before the grand climax. He said: "I told my friends no one was going to beat her. The name Anya is a good marketing line. Her hairstyle, fashion sense and compassion helped to make her a crowd favourite." Apart from unbridled raw talent, Scarborough was impressed with her compassionate nature. He said: "Anya has a big heart. She likes people. Despite what people have said about her, she is a people person."
Her victory on the international scene has placed T&T and the Caribbean on the map. He said: "She is patriotic. She has made T&T proud. She has made the Caribbean proud. She is a true ambassador. Anya said she was inspired by Tobago. She is an inspiration to the Caribbean and the Caribbean diaspora." Ayoung-Chee successfully sold the land of steelband and calypso and home to sites like Caroni Bird Sanctuary and Compte De Lopinot Complex. To date, Tourism Minister Rupert Griffith was reported as having approached Ayoung-Chee to attend World Tourism month, in London. Ayoung-Chee's tribute follows a repertoire which includes Tobago-born calypso Rose and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's The Sun Has Risen With A Rose. There's one missing link. Scarborough has never met Ayoung-Chee. "I am hoping I would be able to serenade Anya with Anya on her return to sweet T&T."
Sir Leston Paul comments:
Commenting on his input, Mt Lambert-based arranger Paul said: "It is a great piece of work. I added a modern feel using the latest technology. It's upbeat...a soca beat. A different type of soca. It is not the regular music we do." Paul said he could not resist dancing to Anya.
Lyrics
Her warmth and her compassion
She capture we soul
Anya doux-doux darling
We Project Runway Girl
Pretty like a rose
We diamond, ruby and pearl
We twittered to the end
The whole Caribbean my friend
She won the popular vote
It was just a matter of time when the world
Saw her clothing line
Chorus
Anya sexy Anya
We love how you do it
We love how you flaunt it
Sexy Anya you sweet
You ran away on the runway
For the world to see
Anya sexy Anya well done baby
(An excerpt from Winston Scarborough's De Fosto's tribute)