In an apparent departure from what has become tradition, many of the calypsonians competing in the Calypso Fiesta yesterday trained their guns on the ruling People's National Movement and the way it has been governing the country. Calypsonians have always been the voice of the people and yesterday some of them recovered their voices to bring to the fore issues affecting the society, including the increase in house and land taxes, the Clico fiasco, and the role of Finance Minister Karen Tesheira in securing her funds before its collapse. Allegations of corruption in Udecott, the firing of Dr Keith Rowley, as well as the $2 m flag at the National Stadium, while people have to pass the hat to secure funding for children who need life saving operations made it into several compositions.
Among them was one by Winston Scarborough, the Original De Fosto. De Fosto aroused the Skinner Park crowd with his powerful rendition of In a Palace–a thought provoking commentary on the Prime Minister's official residence and Diplomatic centre. Singing in position number seven, De Fosto had calypso lovers waving and jumping as he expressed his desire for a palace "just like yours." He concluded he would never earn enough millions from calypso to achieve that dream. De Fosto had the audience responding as he asked in song– "Did you build an altar in there, do you kneel down and say your prayer or if you get rid of the obeah woman." Judging from performance and crowd response, De Fosto and Kurt Allen are leading the pack in the race for this year's Calypso Monarch title.
Allen gave a strong performance with a calypso that could also be described as "anti-PNM." His selection Too Bright, dealt with the composition of the very intelligent members of the Cabinet. Yet he observed, "they so bright but they can't run the country right." Even Singing Sandra, the proud calypsonian from Laventille strong hold of the PNM, could not help but comment how the waterfront looks like Miami, though nearby Sea Lots "could sting your nose hole." In her 2010 offering, No Child Shall be left behind, Sandra commented on the impressive dancing fountains straight out of Venice or Italy.
"Against the backdrop of our green mountains,
Majestic samaan and pink poui
But sometimes our kids does need an operation
And to raise de funds we must pass de hat
Yet on a flag, look they spend two million
Somebody please tell me what's up with dat," she sang.
LEFT: ?Winston "Gypsy" Peters on stage.
RIGHT: ?Some patrons waved toilet paper as Gypsy delivered his nation building song.
The proliferation of Chinese nationals now in the country was also brought to the fore by Alicia Richards in her song Revisited. Another take on allegations of corruption in Udecott came from Anthony Johnson, singing a composition called Clean Heart, with the letter 'e' crossed off – "You claim to love T&T, now is no time to sit on the fence and accept incompetence. Show that we don't like it so and who can't deliver we make you go," he offered. The same audience that cheered the anti-government songs brought out the toilet paper when Opposition politician Winston Gypsy Peters made his appearance in position number eight to deliver a nation building song called My Trinidad. He was the only contender to have received toilet paper.
The crowd also cheered young Roderick Gordon, known as Mr Chucky with another nation building calypso called A People's National Movement. Chucky recently lost his father, calypso judge Roland Gordon. Allegations of corruption in the police service and rouge cops bringing it into disgrace was addressed by several calypsonians, including Police officer Dexter 'Stinger' Parsons. There was no shortage of humour from contenders like Oaklan Lashley who advised ladies being beaten by men to grab Stones, the name of calypso, and pelt, as well as from Prison Officer Joel Parsons with his selection Not me and Outside Woman Again. Prime Minister Patrick Manning and some MPs attended and remained in the mayor's booth.