by Nelson A. King

in New York



Vincentians in the Big Apple were pleasantly surprised when a parade of local – one is now international – stars interrupted a town hall meeting Thursday to warmly embrace Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and greet nationals. {{more}}

Except, perhaps, for the organizers of the event and entertainment promoter/businessman Gideon “Fessy” Yorke, owner of Standard Shippers, on Clarendon Road, Brooklyn, no one had any clue whatsoever that Kevin Lyttle, Princess Monique and Bomani would grace the audience at Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center in Brooklyn.

Dr. Gonsalves was just wrapping up his well-received address when, out of the blue, the stars arrived, in a steady procession, to a stirring New York-Vincy welcome.

“It’s a pleasure to get our people together,” said Lyttle, who, irrefutably, has put St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the map with his international mega-hit, “Turn Me On.”

“It’s great to see [get] the support in our country.”

Lyttle said he constantly has to remind or inform interviewers and audiences about his nationality, stating that people often ask him if he’s from Jamaica – a question that is frequently posed to most Caribbean nationals by Americans, some of whom think, in their ignorance, that Jamaica encompasses the entire Caribbean.

“I got your back, no matter what,” Lyttle affirmed, referring to his compatriots. “[During] every interview, I tell people that I’m from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I try to do it for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Thank you for coming out and supporting our Prime Minister.”

Since she was unprepared for the startling appearance, Princess Monique, the national double calypso monarch, sang, acappella, the hit song “Caribbean Unity” which took her to the pinnacle of Vincy Calypso World – to a standing ovation.

Bomani, the 2003 Soca and Road March King, did not even attempt to match Princess Monique – or, perhaps, just couldn’t – but he reinforced Dr. Gonsalves’ zealous endeavour to fully support the Grenadian people in their most desperate time of need.

“It’s important that we are in support of Grenada,” he said.