10th
July 2012
The RSLPF
Add Their 2 Cents in Lucian Kaiso
Merissa Stephen
Calypsos sang
by officers attached to the various departments
of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force(RSLPF) stirred
the city of Castries last Saturday night one
of which was written by Jonathan St. Rose a.k.a.
Ninja Dan.
Though currently
at the Bordelais Correctional Facility, Ninja
Dan crafted the lyrics for the calypso titled
“Fat Man”, which was performed by
Mighty Square. The hundreds who fell in line
at the Police Barracks swayed and jumped to
the lyrics ‘Well Fatman could work, and
Fatman can wine, and Fatman could jook…She
never know the Fatman could go down low, she
never know the Fatman could touch his toes.’
In its 7th year,
“Kaiso Headquaters”, presented annually
by the RSLPF, brought on board for the opening
act Stinger; the Primary Schools’ Jr.
Calypso Monarch, Jamalie; the reigning RC Boys’
Calypso king and Gill.
The law enforcement
authorities, in the opinion of the Commissioner
of the force, Vernon Francois, were true to
the art form that is Calypso and delivered in
their various presentations. “I think
it was a very great show. We wanted to show
that our police officers have talent, that they
can take part in the calypso activities from
St. Lucia…and it’s a great thing
that people came out to support us,” he
said.
The Commissioner,
in a comment on the performance coming from
2011’s Reigning Calypso Monarch stated,
“Calypsonians have always accepted what
they call a Calypsonians licence really, so
if there’s a topical issue, they will
raise it and speak about it.” Sprat A
Pra, the reigning RSLPF Calypso Champ for the
last 2 years aired his views on the comments
of human right activist Mary Francis. The tune
titled “Mary Mary”, had lyrics such
as “Mary quite contrary how does your
garden grow... because the police men and police
women are obligated by law to serve and protect,
so don’t study our bullet.” Sparta
A Pra brought to the stage a clever play on
words and in the view of some, presented quite
a controversial song.
The Commissioner
indicated that part of the proceeds generated
from the calypso show will be contributed to
the medicals of an officer who suffered a serious
accident last October. “Part proceeds
of the show will go towards Ms. Tamara Charles-Wilfred.
She is a police officer and she was involved
in a serious accident in October last year,”
Francois stated. “She is at the moment
confined to a wheel chair, but she’s going
through some rehabilitation and we saw it as
an opportunity to help,” stating also
that Ms. Wilfred was a performer at last year’s
Kaiso Headquarters, presenting herself as Brown
Sugar and that she has also participated in
Calypso on a national stage.
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