Political commentary was the order of the night Thursday in Lionel Roberts Stadium as St. Clair "Whadablee" DeSilva secured his third consecutive monarch title at the V.I. Calypso Competition.
His songs "More Money" and "Hypocrites" put him over the top in the four-hour-plus competition. "More Money" detailed last year's strike by the American Federation of Teachers union. "Hypocrites" pokes fun at politicians.
"More Money" landed Whadablee the award for best social commentary. After being announced as the three-peat winner, he allowed as how the competition was a bit stiff this year. He was noncommittal as to whether he would vie again in 2002, a move that could put him on the same plane as his immediate predecessor, four-time calypso monarch Louis Ible Jr.
This year's first runner-up was Myrel "Supert T" Tonge, with "Talkie, Talkie, " a song in which he blamed voters for re-electing the same politicians year after year.
Second runner-up was King Kan Fu Plantae, Campbell Barnes, with a song called "No Panty and Slip This Year."
The Most Improved Calypsonian award went to De Flash, Francis Jackaman.
Imaginations Brass was the back-up band, and Pure Harmony provided the back-up vocals at the competition, attended by at least 3,000 persons.
