PM pays tribute to Popo

For years Indian cultural icon Sundar Popo, considered to be the father of chutney music, entertained millions around the world with his infectious songs and double entendre lyrics. On May 29, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, in a most befitting tribute, unveiled a statue in honour of the late chutney singer as part of Indian Arrival Day celebrations at Debe Junction. The statue, which captures Popo singing in his dapper trademark red jacket and white pants suit, was installed in Popo’s hometown of Debe in the vicinity of popular food stalls selling the tasty East Indian delicacy that he sang about in his famous hit Pholourie Beena Chutney. Popo’s wife Keyso, overcome with emotion, began weeping as Persad Bissessar, together with Housing Minister and Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, Justice Minister and St Joseph MP Herbert Volney, Local Government Minister and Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma, Minister in the Ministry of Labour Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh, sang Popo’s song, A Mother’s Love, which was written in tribute to his mother Sophia Bahoora and her sister Rookmin.

Moonilal, addressing Popo fans and well wishers gathered at Debe Junction for the unveiling, said this honour was overdue since the former regime had promised to find a location but never delivered. He said the People’s Partnership promised the Popo family to honour the late singer and “after one year of coming into office we made it our commitment. We made this delivery.”  Moonilal, in paying tribute to Popo, described him as, “a founding father, a cultural and social icon of our land. Someone who, for many years, has gone un-noticed and without the distinction and support that he richly deserves.”
He said Debe Junction was chosen for the installation of the statue because “Penal/Debe, in our administration, will emerge as a centrepiece for national life, social life, economic life.” With the construction of the University of the West Indies South campus mere metres away Moonilal added, “We intend to make this area an education centre for our cultural icon.”

He commended music producer Ajeet Praimsingh and the Sundar Popo Monument Committee for lobbying for such a national honour to be bestowed in memory of Popo. Persad Bissessar, in her brief remarks, commended Moonilal for assisting the committee in finding a suitable location for Popo’s statue. She said as Siparia MP she wrote the first letter calling for the installation of the monument in Popo’s honour and “we got a second chance” to do so. “This place will become a focal point as we work to develop this area as a university town, a centre for learning,” Persad Bissessar said. A Sundar Popo singing competition formed part of the celebrations. Sundar Popo, born Sunilal Popo Bahora, died in May 2000. Popo, through Moean Mohammed and Windsor Records, produced more than 15 records that were marketed in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Holland, Fiji and India. Some of Popo’s popular records include Sundar Fever, Sweet Sweet Guyana (produced together with Anand Yankeran,) Children Respect Your Mother, Heart Brake and Sundar’s Screwdriver.