April 24, 2003 – "Music, Mas and Pageantry" took the stage Wednesday night in a combined performance by young calypsonians and cultural dancers and ornate displays of the talents of carnival costume designers.
Seven new titles were bestowed at the end of the long but festive evening at Lionel Roberts Stadium.
Junior calypsonians Yellowman, Princess Lyrics and Lord T emerged as the judges' favorites in the primary, intermediate and secondary school divisions, respectively.
Yellowman emerged the victor from the largest field of competitors ever in the primary school division with his song "Sing, Governor, Sing."
Princess Lyrics' win was a repeat for the intermediate school calypsonian. Asked what she would tell her classmates when she returned to her sixth grade class at Joseph Gomez School on Wednesday, the singer, whose real name is Shamelle Farrington, said it would be that "I had a wonderful time."
Lord T seemed to savor his victory the most among the youngsters. After five years of trying, he said, he finally won the crown. During his performance, he was not shy about making his play to the judges. In his song "It's About Time," he sang, "You're crippling my future when you ignore my good calypso."
In the King and Queen of the Bands competition, St. John's Cheryl Boynes-Jackson repeated her 2002 win as queen for the carnival troupe Hugga Bunch. She appeared in a 14-foot fuchsia creation in tribute to silver screen star and singer Carmen Miranda.
Former Infernos troupe King of the Bands Darryl Donovan was again chosen as king, for his presentation in a scarlet and gold towering creation topped off by a dragon's head.
Shiraine Stephens, performing for the University of the Virgin Islands 4-H troupe, won the title of Junior Queen of the Bands in a royal blue and red costume fanned out over a filigree halo of golden rods.
And Kidani Barthlett, of the Sun Children, which has "Glass Fantasy" as its 2003 theme, took the junior king title with his mirrored dragon costume.
Because of heavy rains and poor field conditions at the stadium Tuesday night, the junior calypso show was doubled up with Wednesday's scheduled Culture Night event, which traditionally features the King and Queen of the Bands competition. Master of ceremonies Irvin "Brownie" Brown kept the performance paces brisk trying to bring the program, which got under way at 7 p.m., to a close by midnight.
Among the night's high spots was a special appearance by 2003 V.I. Carnival Queen Janelle Sarauw and three members of her court, dressed the costumes they had worn for the cultural interpretation portion of the queen competition and dancing onstage to the sounds of Milo's Kings.
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