National Unity In The Year 2010 was one of the songs which the late Mystic Prowler sang to win the Calypso Monarch crown in 1998 and in today's political context in T&T many culture aficionados are judging him as a prophet way ahead of his time. However, Gregory "GB" Ballantyne, who composed the song for Mystic Prowler, yesterday debunked any notion that the calypso National Unity In The Year 2010 was meant to be serious political commentary. Tracked down to see if he could give the Sunday Guardian the lyrics of the calypso, Ballantyne laughed out loud when it was put to him that the calypso prophesised the current unified political opposition comprising UNC, COP, NJAC, TOP and Movement for Social Justice.
"The song was tongue in cheek; it was not meant to be serious political commentary. "Mystic Prowler won with Beneath the Surface, which I also composed, and which is a classic. "National Unity was just a back-up song, back up nonsense about Mystic Prowler going in a dream and he saw 2010 when Sat Maharaj (of the Maha Sabha) was controlling the country," GB explained. He said at the time Maharaj, a Hindu leader, was in the midst of a national controversy about the Government's plan to introduce pan in all primary schools, including those run by the Maha Sabha. GB said Sugar Aloes was very angry to be beaten into second place by Mystic Prowler. (PB)