TWO FORMER MONARCHS (“CHALKDUST” AND “KAREN ASCHE”) IN T&T CALYPSO FINALS

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday February 4, 2013 – Two former calypso monarchs have been included in the finals of the 2013 competition that will take place here on Thursday.

The Trinidad Tobago Unified Calypso Organisation (TUCO) said that former winners Dr. Hollis Liverpool, “Chalkdust” and Karene Asche were selected during the Calypso Fiesta semi-finals over the weekend.

The other contestants who will challenge defending monarch Dwayne O’Conner, are Eunice Peters, Alana Sinnette, Heather MacIntosh, Kizzie Ruiz, Marvah "Marvellous Marva" Joseph, Victoria "Queen Victoria" Cooper, Eric "Pink Panther" Taylor, Kurt Allen and Roderick "Mr Chucky" Gordon.

Among those not qualifying for the finals was former monarch Michael Osuana  “Sugar Aloes” who had to endure the wrath of patrons at the semi-finals, who threw toilet paper at him for his recent performance at the second anniversary celebrations of the  ruling People’s Partnership government.

Aloes, regarded as a flag bearer for the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), angered many opposition supporters when he sang “She’s Royal” in tribute to Prime Minister Kalma Persad Bissessar

But in one of his compositions for this year’s Carnival, Aloes defended his decision to sing at the function insisting he was only “doing a work”.

This will be the first time that the finals of the calypso monarch competition will not be held on the weekend preceding the final two days of the Carnival.

The organisers said that the new dates are in keeping with attempts to revamp the annual celebrations that pump in millions of dollars into the local economy.

Carnival celebrations end here on February 12. (CMC)

SOURCE:  http://www.caribbean360.com