‘Great lyrics’ at Grant’s calypso competition

Issues, such as the missing piano, crime, the breathalyser and drunk-driving, were among the topics selected by students of Grant Memorial Presbyterian School, when it held its annual Old Mas and Calypso Monarch Competitions last Friday. Chief judge, Geeta Jeet, praised the students for their “great lyrics” and “topical subjects.” However, she encouraged some of them to work on their melody and stage movement.
Comedian Tommy Joseph, who co-hosted the event along with teacher Neleen Williams-Sooknanan, had principal Monica Baksh, staff and students in stitches with his humour and an Indian dance which he performed to guest artiste’s Rikki Jai’s Bolo.

From a field of 12 competitors, Swayne Davis was adjudged the calypso monarch (senior). His classmate Faith Webb, a former monarch, placed second, while Kosi Regis. singing Calypso Blues, placed third.
Both Davis and Webb, who will be writing the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination later this month, performed songs expressing their gratitude to their teachers for the knowledge imparted to them over the past seven years. Davis’ composition was titled, a Tribute to Grant School, in which he remembered past principal Lennox Sirjuesingh who made it possible for him to enter the school.

Webb’s composition, titled A Grateful Student, also paid tribute to her class teachers, choir mistress and masters and pan tutor Henry Hudson. The two top winners were hugged and congratulated by their classmates and teacher Cheryl-Ann Marchan. In the junior category Farzanah Rahaman won with her song, called Go Trinbago Go. Standard two student Amreta Umraw, singing Tribute to Sir Ellis, placed second, while Jaedon Maharaj-Ali, singing about The Missing Piano, placed third.