PM braves ‘PNM crowd’ at Calypso Fiesta

Despite last year’s embarrassing jeering of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Art and Multiculturalism Minister Winston “Gypsy” Peters, the duo returned to Skinner Park for the annual edition of a heated Calypso Fiesta. The Prime Minister arrived at 4.50 pm accompanied by her husband Gregory Bissessar and was greeted by a welcoming party comprising government ministers and San Fernando Council members. Persad-Bissessar immediately proceeded to the VIP section at the Penthouse where she spent most of the evening. Earlier on, as the MC announced the presence of Peters, a cross-section of the crowd began to boo. In what is believed to be a PNM majority crowd, a number of renditions were geared toward bashing government policies, and afrocentric songs for uplifting citizens.

Among the politicians visiting the park were Minister of Housing Roodal Moonilal, Minister in the Ministry of Labour Rudy Indarsingh, Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma and San Fernando Mayor Marlene Coudray. Moonilal was taunted as he walked through the stands, with one female patron walking up to him and requesting “a house that Manning built.” In the first half of the semi-final round of the calypso monarch, 20 contestants came out in full force for a chance to compete against defending Calypso Monarch Karene Asche. In what could be deemed a hit performance, it was the judges who received a tongue-lashing. Selvon Noel, popularly know as Mista Shak, took a toll on the lack of creativity in calypso in his selection, The Blueprint.

Dressed in an industrial coverall, Mista Shak commanded the crowd and had them singing along to his high tempo tune. Performing in position number 18 as patrons stood in the blazing sun, he had them waving and jumping around. Shak lashed out at judges and calypsonians saying that to win a kaiso competition, artistes had to follow a blueprint handed down by veterans such as Chalkdust. He created a hype, singing: “most of our calypsonians are talented for sure. But some of them in trouble of becoming Kaiso Dinosaurs....Whatever you do, don’t try anything new, if you try to be creative, the judges’  comments will be negative.”

Creating a stir with his humour on stage was the young at heart veteran Anthony Hendrickson (Allrounder). His Garlic Sauce tune tantalised fans along with the partial strip show which he performed on stage. The crowd went wild with excitement as Allrounder, who brought garlic sauce for the audience, began to lace himself with the condiment as two women fought for it. But in the numerous songs which highlighted a number of the Government’s highly debated decisions over the last month, reigning San Fernando calypso king Brian London was the pick of the lot. London was in a positive mood after his performance saying that he was confident going into the finals. His wittiness was well received by the crowd, which roared with laughter.

There were also powerful performances by Chalkdust, Lady Adana, Maria La-Caille, Singing Sandra and many others. A notable difference in this year’s show was the late arrival of patrons at the park around noon. However, by 2 pm, the crowd grew thick, making the show one of the largest ever.