Former police officer Kyron Arthur was remembered in a special way last Friday night when the Police Retirees Association staged their Police Retro Kaiso Monarch Competition at SWWTU Hall in Port-of-Spain.
The founder of the police calypso monarch competition, Arthur is now under the weather and was unable to attend. However this contest has spawned a cadre of excellent calypsonians and performers through the years, including Watchman, Kenny J, Johnny King, Bunny B, Wizard of I.D., The Mechanic and D'Masso.
The new competition can be called a success despite facing some challenges on Friday night, inclusive of a late start, the late arrival of a bar, too many items being performed by guest artistes, and too much banter between its 22 contestants, all contributing to the programme going way beyond midnight. The emcees were Tuco East Zone's Kaiso Karavan's Godfrey Pierre and Limping Lenny.
Attended by acting commissioner of police Stephen Williams, past commissioners Everald Snaggs and Trevor Paul and several retired and serving officers, the programme offered a wide and entertaining array of past calypso gems with some excellent performances. Veteran soca artiste Candi Hoyte opened proceedings with a strong presentation, performing Singing Francine's Run Away. Other women in the contest were Natasha Edmund, Lady Tallish (Francilla Jackson), Shivaughn Skeete and Makeda Darius (Lady Darius) who placed second overall singing Mighty Sparrow's Slave.
The strength of most of the performances should encourage organisers to make this competition an annual event. Contestants seemed to have researched their songs thoroughly, most of them performing in character. For instance, singing Black Stalin's Black Man Feeling to Party, Peter Cipriani not only donned dreadlocks but used cosmetics to darken his complexion considerably. To relive Growling Tiger's 1930s hit Take Me Take Me, Wizard of ID (Cuthbert George) was a picture of sartorial elegance in full formal evening wear, his ensemble completed with a cane and a wizard's hat.
For his interpretation of Merchant's Pan in Danger, Keith Lucas was accompanied by none other than pan genius Len "Boogsie" Sharpe. And, to impersonate Gabby doing Government Boots, Bunny B (Neville Brown) wore total army camouflage kit, emphasising the military boots he wore. Of course, he tried his best to also sing with a Barbadian accent.
At the end of it all, the judges were most impressed by the performance of Gerard Snaggs who interpreted Preacher's Jump and Wave. His was the most energetic performance on the night and he won thunderous applause at its end.
Runners-up, and their songs, were Lady Darius (Slave); Rance Johnson (Poser's Party Tonight); George Olivierie (David Rudder's Madness); and Sheye (Sparrow's Badjohn), respectively. Making guest appearances were past national calypso monarch Duane O'Connor, Brian London, Saint Nick and Abebele.
Pan in D Countryside
After taking a hiatus in the wake of its International Conference & Panorama, Pan Trinbago Inc is resuming its Pan in D Countryside series of open air concerts on Saturday, November 7 to Rio Claro, at Rio Claro Koskeros panyard. To be staged in conjunction with the South/Central Region, proceeds from the event will be used to offset medical expenses for three pan pioneers–Kenny Pascall (Rio Claro Koskeros); Lennox "Sam" Fortune (Hatters/San City); and Glenford Sobers (New Age Trendsetters).
The fun begins at 2 pm and the bands listed to perform are Desperadoes, Supernovas, San City, Petrotrin Hatters, Fusion Steel, New Age Trendsetters and Rio Claro Koskeros. Also in attendance is DJ Klass is Class. Admission is free, and food and drinks will be on sale.
Pan Trinbago regards the contributions made by these three pan stalwarts towards the steelband movement to be invaluable and hopes that the public will support the venture.
Mas in Miamithis weekend
Miami Carnival reaches its high point this weekend when 15,000 masqueraders are expected to participate in a burst of colour and pageantry on Sunday. Straight Out of Compton star Marcc Rose will serve as a this year's celebrity Grand Marshall and soca diva Destra will headline the main performing stage.
One of the anticipated cultural Caribbean traditions, Sunday's Miami Broward Carnival parade will be held at the Miami Dade County Fair and Exposition on SW 24th Street from 11 am.
Hosted and produced by the Miami Broward Carnival One Carnival Host Committee, this feast of cultural celebration showcases the vast diversity that is the Caribbean culture of carnival with culinary delights indigenous to the Caribbean, melodious sounds of steelbands, and colourful and elaborate costumes.
This year's parade of masqueraders includes 19 costumed bands that have been working all year on their portrayals and costume designs. Miami Carnival was voted as one of the Top 100 events in South Florida by Bizbash.
The city's warm weather, palm trees and melting pot of cultures truly makes Miami the ideal destination to host the annual Miami Carnival celebration. This year, Miami Carnival celebrates 31 years of carnival celebration and Antigua's 60 years of carnival. Miami Broward Carnival is the last major North American event on the carnival circuit leading up to T&T Carnival in 2016.
"The Miami Broward Carnival is among Miami's most popular and exciting multicultural event featuring the rich Caribbean culture of our community," says Greater Miami Convention & Visitor Bureau president and CEO Williams D Talbert III, CDME.
"We are delighted to welcome once again the many visitors who travel to Greater Miami to enjoy this spectacular event along with the extraordinary offerings of our destination."
Aside from Destra, the Miami Carnival music stage will include energising performances by some of today's top heavyweight soca artistes including Dil-e-Nadan, Ricardo Drue, Snakey, Fadda Fox, Xplosion Band and Lyrikal.
Said Roy Cape All Star vocalist Drue: "I am definitely no stranger to the stage at Miami Carnival, orignally performing some years ago with my group Crossovah. Whenever I touch the stage for Miami Carnival, it feels comfortable, feels like home.
"Obviously this time it's a little different, being a solo act and coming off such a successful year. When it comes to my performance, the people can expect a lot of fun and energy. I want the public to feel a part of the performance like we are on stage together to give me the same energy I'm giving to them."
Actor Rose said: "It is an honour to serve as Grand Marshall for Miami Carnival representing T&T. Culture is everything to me. It's who I am, so I feel blessed to be able to represent and celebrate my Caribbean heritage."
Fatima Food Fest tomorrow
As a leader, Fatima Old Boys Association (FOBA) is in a continuous state of evolution and innovation. For over a decade, its Salt & Pepper Cookout has set the bar to which others aspire and the FOBA is now about to shake up this event category by introducing FatimaFoodFest tomorrow, at 7 pm at the courtyard of the Mucurapo Road college in St James.
This scrumptious new food festival will maintain everything patrons loved about Salt & Pepper, which has been hosted for the past 14 years, while introducing competitive culinary entertainment worthy of the Food Network, such as:
�2 Interactivity–Patrons will now judge the cooks to determine Best Fatima Alumni Cook and Best Invitational School Team. Guest cooks include past students of St Mary's Colllege, QRC, Belmont Ex-Pupils Association, (BELEX), Holy Name Convent, and St Francois Girls College.
�2 Flair Bartending–patrons can enjoy their favourite cocktail made with exciting showmanship.
�2 Celebrity Chef Challenge–patrons will get up close and personal as two local celebrity chefs battle on stage as they prepare a gourmet delight live for your sensory pleasures. Again, patrons will be the judges.
FOBA has been on the lookout for cooks who can contribute new, exciting, tasty dishes to the cause to help make the event an even greater success. So if you have a real sweet hand and know how to bubble a pot, come show off your skills at FatimaFoodFest 2015. FOBA is hoping to attract over 100 cooks, as was done last year.
�2 Tickets for tomorrow are priced at $350 and drinks are free. For further information, contact the FOBA Office (628-4735) or foba2012@live.com