Dancing, chanting and giving thanks for a fantastic year, it was a "Soca Baptist" welcome for Power Soca Monarch champion Austin "SuperBlue" Lyons as he returned to his hometown of Point Fortin on February 28.
Signalling his intention to paint the town blue for the upcoming Borough Day celebrations in April/May, he has already begun to make his mark with a street and play park which were named in his honour.
Before receiving these accolades, the soca star lit candles and broke bread which he shared with guests during a thanksgiving service held in his honour at the Point Fortin Borough Corporation's auditorium.
Earlier in the day, Point Fortin mayor Clyde Paul declared May 3 SuperBlue Day to commemorate his ninth Road March and his seventh Soca Monarch victory during a phenomenal Carnival 2013 season, which saw him return to competition after 13 years.
During the corporation's statutory meeting Paul declared, "Whereas Austin "SuperBlue" Lyons has dominated the world of soca music in the past years and whereas the year 2013 has seen a remarkable return to his glorious performance, "SuperBlue" has won the hearts and minds of T&T and made all of the Borough of Point Fortin proud.
"In recognition of such, the Borough of Point Fortin has resolved to honour these achievements and be it resolved that Friday, May 3, 2013, the Borough of Point Fortin hereby proclaims this day as SuperBlue Day in recognition of the contribution and achievement of Mr Austin Lyons."
During the thanksgiving ceremony, a gleeful Paul broke out in song with the popular hymn There is a Joy in My Heart, as he deemed SuperBlue's victory his rebirth. Lyons was on hand to unveil the street sign which changed Sylvester Street–a short distance away from Baptist Road, where he once lived–to Austin Lyons Avenue. He also turned the sod for the rehabilitation of the old Lions Club Play Park at Morrison Street, Mahaica, which will sport the new name Austin Lyons Children's Play Park when it is completed.
He said while he was happy for the tributes, it was only through the work of God that he was able to ascend out of tribulation.
"I was not expecting any of this but I kept the faith and let God do his work. The opening of my song was I pray and I prayed. I thought about making a comeback two or three times before, but this year I said to myself, go for it, just go with God.
"I just have to thank God that I could have opened my eyes this morning to be here. Men dream, wake up and ask why? Now I dream, accept it and say why not?"
Now that Carnival is over, SuperBlue does not plan to slow down, as he is already working on new releases called Borough Day and Ole School Party Reunion, which he plans to perform at the various activities during the two weeks of Borough Day celebrations.
"Well, these days I have been writing, reading, meditating, singing and I need a six-pack," he said, rubbing his stomach.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Point Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon said talks will be held with SuperBlue to arrange for him to have a greater presence in the borough. She told SuperBlue his victory showed he was a class above other soca artistes, including joint Power Soca Monarch winner Machel Montano.
"Congratulations, we must say, to Machel–but you are the king. What you brought back was melody into soca–and it's not just 'jam, jam' soca, but that was a song that was on the lips of every child, every adult and everyone," Gopee Scoon said.