KEVON FELMINE
Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
There was no picong, no political taunts—just pure “kaiso! kaiso!” as the youths of South Trinidad delivered thrilling renditions at the South Junior Calypso Finals 2025 on Thursday.
The event saw 18-year-old Jimecya Burnett and eight-year-old Xhaiden Darius claiming the top prizes.
While the auditorium at San Fernando City Hall was not at full capacity, those vacant seats meant that some calypso lovers missed out on a treat, as each of the ten contestants delivered outstanding performances.
In the secondary school category, Burnett, a student of the New Butler Associate College, had to fend off strong contenders Josiah Ferrier and Keshawn Gomez, who finished second and third respectively.
Dressed like a queen, complete with a tiara, Burnett delivered a powerful message urging young women to know their worth and strive for greatness. She encouraged them not to allow anyone to treat them as insignificant.
“To gather success, you don’t need to undress. Be a woman who is worthy,” she crooned.
Overwhelmed but grateful after her victory, Burnett admitted that she had not expected to win. Her sole focus during her performance of Know Your Worth was to get her message across, as it addressed issues she had personally witnessed. She felt compelled to be the voice advocating for change.
Her win serves as a strong motivator as she heads into the Junior National Calypso Monarch Competition semifinals this Saturday in Port-of-Spain. She hopes her message will resonate and earn her a place in the finals.
“It is not really about me, but my family. I wanted to be the person to say, ‘Now is the time to stop, know your worth.’ Apart from family, young ladies in society today need to recognise their value,” Burnett said.
In the Primary School category, Xhaiden Darius claimed first place with an energetic and professional performance, reminiscent of seasoned calypso veterans on the big stage.
Neatly dressed in a green tuxedo and singing Calypso Will Survive, the young performer captivated the audience.
Xhaiden, who has been singing since the age of five, said he had expected to place second, believing that runner-up Katelin Sultan’s performance was better than his.
“I feel very happy, and I feel very happy for the other contestants that made it. They were very good. The second-place winner, Katelin Sultan, I just want to say good job—you were very good, and I loved your performance,” Xhaiden said.
He said Lord Kitchener was his favourite artiste, and he dreamt of performing on the grand stage at Skinner Park, following in the footsteps of his mother, Tameika Darius, who has made a name for herself in calypso.
Janaya Clarke finished third in the category.
San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris said he was impressed with the semifinal rounds and believes the event has the potential to grow further, emphasising the importance of giving young people a chance to showcase their talent.
