A crestfallen Winston Scarborough known as The Original De Fosto Himself, whose patriotic song, Could We Rise Again, did not get the judges' nod at Dimanche Gras 2009, decided he was going to experiment with a bacchanal song for C2k10. He decided upon In A Palace State of Mind–a political satire directed at Prime Minister Patrick Manning's Diplomatic Centre in St Ann's. The gamble earned him a place in next Sunday's Dimanche Gras competition. During a telephone interview yesterday, Scarborough said: "I am happy to come up against newcomers like Mista Shak and Nicole Greaves. He said he was seeing new blood emerging. To see so many young people in the competition is motivating factor." He said he felt Selvon Noel's (Mista Shak) song was phenomenal. "Even Brian London who had a wonderful tune. Even Devon Seale, Kizzy Ruiz and Singing Sandra," added De Fosto.
Scarborough said he was impressed with the high standards. He extended his best wishes to all of them, including reigning monarch Dr Hollis Liverpool "who can confuse the parry." Scarborough said he knew there was a strong sentiment in the society that Manning had wasted the country's patrimony on the multi-million-dollar building. "The people feel strongly about those buildings...even Hyatt. Since the judges preferred My Hart and I (sung by Hollis Liverpool last year), I decided if is bacchanal they want, they will get bacchanal," said Scarborough. "In a Palace State of Mind was my idea of a political satire. Could We Rise Again was not the Calypso of the Year so I went into bacchanal," added Scarborough.
Nightly, Scarborough received encores at Kaiso Karavan, La Joya, St Joseph.
"People have warmed to it. Even though it is serious you can sing, dance, cry. It is a great political song," he said. The Diplomatic Centre boasts chandileers hanging high and mosaics dotting the floor. A salon, conference rooms, sitting and dining rooms are housed there. There is even a prayer room, too. On January 13, while Divine Echoes Orchestra played beautifully, Manning hosted the media. He said the gesture of dinner was "not meant to soften passions." As a lagniappe, he went further and poked fun at Sports Minister Gary Hunt for his $2 million dollar flag. The extravagant purchase was strongly condemned by Parliamentarians and people from all walks of life.
Thoughts on Kamla
Quizzed on his thoughts on Siparia MP Kamla Persad Bissessar's victory as leader of the Opposition, he said, "That is divine intervention." But on a more sober note, he said she conducted herself in a queenly manner. "She ran her campaign without slander and she emerged triumphant. Her approach brought her victory," he said. Like the rest of T&T's population, he was waiting with bated breath to see how the events would unfold. But he was impressed with Persad-Bissessar's persona, describing her as "a harmonious woman, full of high ideals and a people's person."
