Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez performs during
Fantastic Friday at the Hasely Crawford
Stadium, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.
Photo Anthony Harris

Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez was at home viewing Desperate Housewives when she heard she had won the Road March title for a third time Lyons-Alvarez said she was expecting friends to drop by and cook a meal while she enjoyed some rest and relaxation at her Lange Park home in Chaguanas. In a telephone interview after the news broke yesterday, she said, “I feel great...great...great.It is a nice feeling to win three titles.” When asked how she intended to celebrate her 2009 success, Lyons-Alvarez said,“Eat some food...some partners gonna come over and cook.” The 28-year-old mother to be said she earned her successes by burning the midnight oil. She said,“I worked very hard.

“I stayed up late hours into the morning at the studio, performed on stage and balanced that with being pregnant.” She said she was not really surprised about the victory having learnt her song Meet Super Blue was played 410 times. Destra Garcia’s Bacchanal came in second. It was played 76 times. Lyons-Alvarez said, “I am not surprised. Road March is a people thing, it is judged by the people and to know that they have been backing my song is mind- blowing.”

She added that the number of times the song was played demonstrated something about the people of T&T and how they viewed it. “It was overwhelming,” she said. She acknowledged the “conscientious effort” by promoters who sought to make her comfortable backstage during her performances. She said, “The promoters were lovely. They provided a lounge chair and water backstage and I was comfortable.” She said that act demonstrated that other women in the industry could become pregnant and continue their careers.

Her advice to women and aspiring artistes was, “Always try to be the best you can be. You never know how far you can go until you start walking.” Husband Ian, aka Bunji Garlin, was very proud of her achievements. She said he had been very supportive and “made it a million times easier.” Lyons-Alvarez said those who said she got pregnant to seek sympathy were “illiterate people.” Her advice to them was, “For 2009, sit and think about what is going to come out your mouth before you say it. “Not everything you think in your head should come out your mouth.” She thanked all her fans, whom she described as her clients. “The more clients the better the business. We need them and I thank them for their support and business.” She said until the arrival of the baby next month, she intended to “enjoy the serene and quiet time, get rest and prepare for parenthood.”

What her husband says
Bunji showered praises on his wife yesterday. Speaking via telephone, he said, “I feel very proud. As a young lady in society, surviving is one thing and being successful is another. “I feel proud of her as an individual because she faced all obstacles and emerged unscathed.”
He said before Carnival the plan was not to perform, but she visited her doctor and he told her, “she is good to go until I say.” Bunji said, “She performed like if she wasn’t pregnant and I think it can be used as an example, you can get up and do what you have to do.” He said those who have been saying the pregnancy was deliberate should “think before they talk.”

“This is a life not a toy, we wouldn’t do something to jeopardise the child.” He added that people would make negative remarks instead of giving kudos. He said he became angry when he heard rumours that his wife had given birth but eventually shrugged it off because he understood how society was. When asked what he thought about the results, Bunji laughed. “I think it was an incredible victory. It is the only fair competition in Trinidad and Tobago because of the people, the people have the say not the judges, the people have the choice.”

What’s the next step?
The couple said they intended to focus their attention on their baby.
Lyons-Alvarez said the sex of the child did not matter, “I want a healthy baby with all 10 ten toes and fingers.” However, her husband said he was “really hoping for a boy.” Bunji has one show tomorrow and after that said he would be off for a couple months to “get acquainted with the baby.” Lyons-Alvarez said she would “hold off performing as long as is necessary.” Bunji said, “The season was a lot of hard work and we are just going to breathe and take a break because I think it is well deserved.”

TITLES

At the International Soca Monarch finals last Friday she captured the Power Soca and Groovy Soca Monarch titles as well as the bmobile People’s Choice. She is also the first female to cop four major soca titles in one season. In 2003, she was the youngest female to win the Road March title. She also captured that title last year.