This evening, Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee and the Corporation will bestow another accolade on David Rudder. The 1986 triple monarch who received an honorary UWI doctorate last year will be honoured once more, this time in Woodford Square at the culmination of the parade to launch the 2016 Downtown Carnival season. The masquerade parade begins at Memorial Park at 3 pm.
We are smack in the middle of the "calypso season" and the tents are lined up to premiere their programmes.
Klassic Ruso, headed by Tuco North Zone chairman Contender (Mark John) and All Rounder, was scheduled to open its doors last night at Port-of-Spain City Hall. Also beginning their season tonight are Kalypso Revue, headed by Sugar Aloes and Skatie, at the Arima Velodrome; Masters Kaiso at Farfield Complex, Tobago; South Zone's Kaiso Showkase, including stars like Ras Kommanda, Short Pants and Joanne Foster, at Palms Club, San Fernando; and the Magnificent Glow.
Aside from Aloes and Skatie, the cast of Kalypso Revue also includes former National Calypso Monarchs Chalkdust and Pink Panther, as well as Antigua superstar Swallow, Baron, Brian London, Devon Seales, Alana Sinette, Ninja, Michelle Henry, Nicole Greaves, Marlon Edwards, Teniel Cooper, Starr George, Bally, Falco, Maze, Witty, Mighty Diamond, Mahalia Regis, Tamekia Darius, Morisha Ransome and Original Tempo.
As usual, the emcees will be CG and Sprangalang. Tomorrow, the tent will have its northern premiere at SWWTU Hall, on Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. On Sunday evening it moves to Sapa, corner Todd Street and Rienzi Kirton Highway, San Fernando.
Tuco East Zone will premiere its Kaiso Karavan, which includes De Original De Fosto Himself, Johnny King, Cardinal, Stinger, Kid Callaloo and Dirty Curty, at La Joya, St Joseph, tomorrow night. Music will be by The Ruiz Brothers and the tent's emcee will be Godfrey Pierre.
Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins) is expected to unveil his Icons tent at The Ambassador Hotel, Long Cicular Road, St James next week Thursday and this will be preceded the previous evening by the gala opening of Kaiso House, based under the massive tent at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Royalty dwells at Kaiso House as the tent has five national calypso monarchs in reigning monarch Chuck Gordon (Roderick Gordon), Singing Sandra (Sandra des Vignes Millington), Karene Asche, Duane O'Connor, Gypsy (Winston Peters) as well as Road March giant SuperBlue. Musical accompaniment is by Cummings & De Wailers and its emcees may be Tommy Joseph and Pelf.
The mammoth National Calypso Monarch semi-final (Kaiso Fiesta) is scheduled for Saturday, January 30 at Skinner Park, San Fernando, at 11 am. However, Tuco will hold the preliminary of its very popular annual National Extempore preliminary on Monday, January 25, at Kaiso House, Queen's Park Savannah, at 8 pm.