THE reigning Calypso Monarch, Walleigh who successfully defended his crown during last Saturday’s Calypso Finals has said that talk of boycotting the event at the last minute was simply to stir up some buzz before the big event.
In a report in the last WEEKEND VOICE by Stan Bishop titled “MAS’ WEEKEND – Tonight’s Calypso Monarchy In Jeopardy”, four artistes scheduled to take part in the event spoke out against the St. Lucia Association of Registered Tents (START) for not meeting their demands for part payment of contractual funds.
The Invader, Menell, Educator and Mary G all voiced their concerns with Menell saying that the $1,000 given to them by the Carnival Planning and Management Agency (CPMA) was only barely able to cover their expenses for performances at the final event.
However, it was The Invader (Ignatius Tisin) who indicated that trouble was afoot when he said: “At last, the calypsonians have decided (that) it’s time to talk.”
One day later, moments after his big win, Wulstan “Walleigh” Alfred said the protests by his colleagues was just a ploy to create controversy. However, he was always confident that the show would have gone ahead as planned.
Alfred said: “I know my colleagues and they make noise at certain opportune times just to create a stir and just for controversy but I know they would have been prepared and they would be preparing to come after me.”
The Calypso King said following his win that he is beyond elation and that he felt extremely proud of his success.
He said: “To defend the crown successfully means that you have something really special in you as a calypsonian.”
Saturday’s win was Alfred’s third time holding the spot as Calypso King of St. Lucia.
Alfred defended his title this year with the two songs “Koudmain” and “Robots”