Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Editorial
December 14, 2012

Quintyn ‘Toiler’ Toby’s question relevant once more

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

The news of the passing of local cultural and calypso veteran, Quintyn “Toiler” Toby has been met with sadness by several sectors of the Vincentian public. A small population like ours, cannot be but negatively affected, by the loss of such talent. Given the pressures that local cultural expression, and calypso in particular, are under, the death of titans like Toiler, in an era when there is increasingly less respect for this original art form, must represent a further dent in the national cultural consciousness.{{more}}

The arts have had more than their fair share of blows in recent years. Mas camps, kaiso tents and pan yards can all point to relatively recent losses. Even the entertainment industry has not been immune, for prominent local impressario, “Stilly” Fraser has not too long departed the scene. Those who can appreciate the humour of it all, claim that “Stilly”, proprietor of the Aquatic Club among other recreational promotions, must have summoned “Toiler” in time for a “Nine-Mornings” opening!

To last four decades or more in the entertainment business is no easy feat. When you are a calypsonian, an endeavour not adequately recognized for its value, it is even worse, prompting one calypsonian, much younger than Toiler, to remark that “de calypso business ain’t easy”. It is in that context that one must appreciate the contribution of Toiler to the development of the local art form and the cultural and entertainment sub-sectors in particular. We join with the rest of the nation in paying tribute to his outstanding contribution.

Having said this, it is opportune to recall Toiler’s prize-winning composition of 1974. Then, in the aftermath of a police

manhunt for Junior “Spirit” Cottle and some colleagues, a prominent police inspector, now deceased, is alleged to have shot a police dog, borrowed from Trinidad to assist in the manhunt. Toiler’s “Who shoot de puppy?” has been indelibly inscribed in local folklore.

It has been treated as somewhat of a local joke since then. In recent times however, we have had cause to reflect on Toiler’s rhetorical question. This time, it is not a canine situation, but a human one, and certainly not a joke, but a real-life misfortune. The recent guarded report of the shooting of a police officer by another, while on night-time duty at Rose Place, gives cause for concern.

A couple weeks ago, another police officer was found guilty of charges of manslaughter, in a case where his firearm discharged, killing his colleague. What is really going on here?

The police are supposed to protect us, to be our guarantors

of public safety. If in carrying out their operations, their own officers are being shot in friendly fire, how safe and secure can we feel?

The late Toiler raised the concerns almost 40 years ago. We should not now be repeating the question, in reference to our own police officers.

May Toiler rest in peace.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Villa woman in  hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Front Page
    Villa woman in hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Police are said to be carrying out investigations into the stabbing of Rafia Sardine, a 20-year-old female of Villa. Reports are that Sardine, a FLOW ...
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Front Page
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    In St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an analysis has found that the most hacked government entity was the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Polic...
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Front Page
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Leaders of Governments and institutions from countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the continent of Africa, gathered at the weekend for ...
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Front Page
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is proud of the persons in his constituency who continue to aim for higher education. Dr Gonsalves is the parliame...
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Front Page
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A van conductor, who beat his five- months pregnant ex-girlfriend after she refused to get back with him, has been remanded pending sentencing. Onez J...
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    From the Courts, News
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A Lowman’s Hill man who struck another villager in his head with a piece of steel will know his fate tomorrow, September 10, 2025. Kevin Roberts, 25, ...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok