12th July 2012
Courts Win ‘Inter’
Stan Bishop

Last Tuesday evening, Dorcia “Dee” Fenelon became the second calypsonian to win an Inter-Commercial House Calypso title for Courts St. Lucia Ltd.

Davis Felix, a finalist in this year’s Calypso Monarch Finals captured the title when the Inter-Commercial House Calypso Competition had its inaugural run in 2002.

Dressed in a superhero costume that accentuated her company’s traditional red, yellow and blue colours, Dee played the role of a Wonder Woman trying to wrest Saint Lucia Carnival from the abyss to which she thinks it has fallen.

Performing in the number eight spot on a roster of fourteen calypsonians, Dee lamented the loss of family values that are portrayed in Saint Lucia Mas, including the lascivious nature of the cultural spectacle that usually attracts negative criticism. In her song, “Carnal In Carnival”, Dee stresses the need for a major clean-up in Saint Lucia Carnival.

Accompanied by a seven-member costume band with steel pan, Dee’s riveting performance -- and her quest – seemed just about the right mix the judges were looking for. In the end, she amassed a total of 341 points and Courts St. Lucia Ltd. joined Digicel and HTS as the only companies to have won the title twice.

Sharon “Sha Blaze” Alexander of the National Insurance Corporation earned 327 points to snag second place with her thematic portrayal of putting aside funds for proverbial rainy days. Her “Prepare for Old Age” speaks to the importance of employees paying those regular contributions to the NIC and not squandering their hard-earned legal tender.

In third place with 305 points was ECFH’s Arlana “Lady Activist” Arthur whose “Celebrate Women” sought to remind us that there is more to celebrate about women than just their “twanches”. Lady Activist’s props included a large poster of a music score peppered with photos of prominent Saint Lucian women. She believes that the time is ripe to create music that celebrates women – not debase them.

WASCO’s Jean “Janny-Jan” Farell’s “WASCO Needs Money” had the packed National Cultural Centre audience reeling with laughter as she explained that for WASCO to ensure free flow of water to customers, customers need to ensure a free flow of payments to the utility company. Her onstage team of WASCO employees undertaking disconnections during her performance, too, indicated an added seriousness about the situation. The judges paid her a bill for 300 points for her efforts, too.

Although the show ran for five hours, there is no denying that it provided much food for thought and friendly rivalry that have become synonymous with the Inter-Commercial House Calypso Competition over the years. Overall, the calypsonians gave a good account of themselves and the companies they represented.

A major twist on the evening was LUCELEC’s Malaika “Miss Kitty” Chester stopping midway through her performance and walking offstage. MC Pringles later informed the audience that she wasn’t feeling too well at the moment. Chester, who won the crown last year, was seeking a second title for the utility company.