2027 Jubilee Year of Three Diamonds

Ah didn’t even know dat Grampa Near-tun was hey, he came to ass-S de Can-ah-fall dat he had nigh-dah seen nor ‘herd’ fee years. He saw what ah wrote last week and he also thinks dat de Fest-ah-fall, “Mas and Pan “Leaves much to be Desired!”

“Leaves much to be Desired!”

Is long time me ain’t hear dat phrase which basically says, “when something is highly unsatisfactory and falls very, very short of expect-taste-shun”. But he ah-greed dat de new add-mini-stray-shun will haff to tek blame from here on. So he offering ah few tips foh de new organ-I-say-shun.

He say ah was too young in 1976 to remember dat de Fest-ah-fall was catching e Nen-en. Cato was Prime-heir (State-hood), and immediately push fee July Mas in 1977. Pan and Mas was struggling but Calypso showed potential. Toiler was crowned King and Dr. Becket Cyrus made it big inter-nah shun- all-he wid “ah Coming High!” (wid Marie-Warner). CDC was formed wid de great, Bertram “Molly” Arthur as Cheerman. Jus’ foh de records Molly is still alive eh.

In 1977, Go-venom-mint was de main sponsor and come 1979 when SVG got its In-de-pen-dance, Cato move-up from “Prime-heir to Prime-mini-star. He was not ah Carnival person, de Calypsonians dealt wid him fearlessly in picong; called him hur-full names. Cato banned ah lot ah Calypsoes from de lone Gov’t Radio Stay-shun. Tired of financing CDC every year, Cato in-traduce ah Nah-shun-all Lottery (Lotto) wid firm stay-place-shuns dat de Lotto is being created to fine-ants Sports and Culture. De Components of Carnival: “Steel Band, Calypso and Mas”should be adequately fine-ants by Lotto. Dat’s why all dis stew-paid-ness we hearing ‘bout Carnival income (Gate-re-seats) is inadequate to fine-ants de festival how “de Dance can’t pay fee de Lights,” smacks of incompetence (not to men-shun corrupt-shun)! Same time Grampa shouted: “Ah-count-ah-bill-at tea oooh!”

Talking evry-ting in one e.g Sports.Ah was shocked when Grampa-nay-turn say dat de young Athletes of Sin-Vin-Sin doing except-shun-ally well, breaking local records, making qualifying times foh Inter-nah-shun-all Games, but our facility “Sir Vin-sin Beach Stay-dum” at Die-man, at de “hurry-hurry” ULP dream-track is below standard, awaiting Certificare-shun as an Inter-nah-shun-all Facility; is time fee mek noise. Lie-Za say seven months in office is nuff time to correct dis His-sterical wrong. “Nuff said!” Grampa say: ‘ ley we go back to dis CDC Share-Cup!”

DE THREE DIAMONDS

2027 could very well be SVG’s Diamond Jubilee Year of de Flag, as three out-standing institutions celebrate 50 Years or Diamond Anniversaries. Was like only yesterday when de National Commercial Bank now BOSVG was founded and incorporated on June 1st 1977. Word on de street is dat BOSVG is planning ah Big Event. Den deys Diamond No 2, GHS Graduation Class of 1977. I am reminded by GHS past student Lie-Za, dat dis event is in its third year of planning, dat I know dat any GHS event, present or Ah-Loom-Nigh (Alumni); home-based or die-us-poorer, generates high excitement among de pop-yuh-lay-shun. And we down to de Third Diamond, de 50th Anniversary of Vincy Mas de Hottest Carnival, dat was changed over in July 1977.

Grampa insists dat de three Diamond Anniversary Celebrants: BOSVG/GHS/CDC would achieve ah great deal if dey could meet, and dey should. Grampa is convinced dat Vincy Mas should spread out over three months, climaxing wid Five Days of Pan/Calypso/Mas. De components should hurry up and be prepared to be ah part of de activities hosted by BOSVG, GHS and present Mini Carnival Packages at CDC functions e.g All inclusive parties, rural shows etc.

One ah de biggest problem would be accommodation foh tourists or visitors. Herein lies de Tour-is-him Department’s challenge . Ah Tourist boat to hold 300O visitors if proper arrangements can be made would be I-deal!.

So 2027 de year when three Outstanding Organ-I-say-Shuns celebrate Diamond Anniversaries; maybe de three Diamonds on de nah-shun-all flag could be an inspiration! Ah turning point in SVG’s journey. And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy

• Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.