Dec. 10, 2007 — If you thought the future of original calypso writers and singers was in jeopardy on St. Croix, you should have been at the Island Center for the Performing Arts Sunday. The young calypsonians at the Junior Calypso competition demonstrated this traditional Caribbean song form is in good hands.
Unfortunately, most Crucians stayed away, and it's their loss.
Chantal Barnes, 17, walked away with the title of Junior Calypso Queen with a song about second chances. Wearing a gold graduation cap and gown, Barnes sang "I was unruly, now I want to make my parents proud. If you feel the same way, let's join together and show them how things could be better."
She may have had an advantage: Calypso is in Barnes' blood as the daughter of calypsonian Campbell "King Kan Fu Plentae" Barnes.
Toddlers as young as three years old and teenage performers sang and strutted across the stage Sunday singing, from a child's perspective, on topics from learning the ABC's to problems of crime and violence. The performances entertained and informed their parents, teachers and the rest of the audience. The competition has six divisions, and the winner in the Junior II class is crowned the new Junior Calypso King or Queen.
In a madras vest and skirt, trimmed in gold braid and accented with an over-sized bow tie, intermediate category winner Kaylah Galloway sang about children's most important job. "They say our generation is doomed to fail, but negative thinking does not have to prevail," she told the audience. "Your job as a child is to excel."
It was Demaris Belardo's second consecutive win in the Junior I division, and she showed off her singing and dancing skills with a lively number advising youth to remember what is important in life. "While we are shaking 'bam bam,' Arabs are pushing money in the bank," she lamented. Wearing a gold lame shirt and shorts, Belardo cautioned the youth not to put partying and driving a "big ride" in front of their education and career.
Camille "King Derby" Macedon, the contest's organizer and emcee, has produced the show since 1980. He said was disappointed at the low attendance, with about 300 or so in the audience.
Macedon said the show featured 23 students from many of the public, private and parochial schools on the island. "There are about 2,000 teachers on island and this place should be filled," he said. "It hurts me, it really hurts me because these kids are doing there best."
Ermine Fahie was one teacher who attended the show. "The show is great, I always appreciate the children learning culture and music," he said. "But where are the teachers and the community?"
Guest artists 2007 Junior Calypso Monarch Roxanne "Lil Roxxy" Webster and Calypso Queen Rebecca "de Queen B" Webster, both of Anguilla, performed at the show.
Here is a complete list of the Junior Calypso contest winners:
Pee Wee Division, ages 3 to 7
— Winner: Gira Newton
— First Runner up: Asherah Joseph
— Second Runner up: Savannah Gadd
Pee Wee I Division, ages 5 to 7
— Winner: Zion James
— First Runner up: Dajah Bruno
— Second Runner up: Kennilea Blake
Pee Wee II Division, ages 8 to 10
— Winner: Nunet Bailey
— First Runner up: Glenn D. Thomas
— Second Runner up: Amisha Hilaire
Intermediate Division, ages 11 to 12
— Winner: Kaylah Galloway
— First Runner up: Khalil James
— Second Runner up: D'Andra Benjamin
Junior I Division, ages 13 to 14
— Winner: Demaris Belardo
— First Runner up: Risheema Burke
— Second Runner up: Steve Douglas
Junior II Division, ages 15 to 17
— Winner: Chantal Barnes
— First Runner up: Trevon Nelson
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