…after dethroning Diana Chapman
UNDER this year’s Theme ‘Mashin’ With Pride-Keepin’ We Traditions Alive’, last year’s runner-up and the 2010 Mashramani Junior Calypso winner Ms Tennicia Defreitas with her calypso ‘Rumours-I Don’t Know’ on Saturday night dethroned the defending champion Ms Diana Chapman, in front of a small crowd which assembled at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground after dodging the persistent rainfall throughout the evening’s programme. The crowd was pleased with the performance of the finalists who had to put aside some technical problems encountered with the Mingles Sound Machine band; and while a few lost their way at times, the competition was good among the top-order finishers in both the Junior Calypso and the Health Song competitions.
It was a vivacious Ms Tennicia DeFreitas who regained the crown she won two years ago, wresting it from Ms Diana Chapman, with a strong and dominant performance.
Her tune ‘Rumours-O Don’t Know’ was a typical calypso, rib-tickling, and each commentary could have been related to actuality in the Guyanese understanding. They seemed to have gripped many to believe them, even though they were said to be rumours.
Ms Chapman, coming on stage last, did take a shot at the title she took away from Ms DeFreitas a year ago. But it was obvious that she was not up to the test this time. She gave birth to a baby boy on Christmas Day.
While Chapman scored 233 points with her piece ‘Signs’ to take second position, the only male among the 11 finalists was Quincy Richmond, who placed third, with 230 points for his ‘I Ain’t Going In Fuh That’.
Others who competed for the title were Ms Lequita Pryce who did ‘Guyanese Arise’, Ms. Vanessa Critchlow and her ‘Human Trafficking’, Ms. Abigail Ann James who performed as AJ with ‘Do Ya Own Thing’, Ms. Sondell Gittens for her ‘Training of Today’, Ms. Alicia Harmon with ‘Me Na Throw Mea Pickney’, Ms. Nickesa London and her ‘Think Before You Act’, Ms Jedidah Wilkinson did ‘Dem Boys Seh So’, and Ernesta R. Nelson performed ‘Piracy’.
Earlier in the night, Roger Hinds better known as ‘Young Bill Rogers, won the Ministry of Health’s Health Song Competition with his ‘Health Is Important’ song. Linden Thomas came second with ‘Ride’ and third position was copped by Tennicia DeFreitas with ‘Your Life, Your Health’.
Others who contested were Jamal Gittens with ‘Draw Fa Ya Rubba’, Jamal Gavin LaRose with ‘It’s Your Life. Take Control Of It’, Dwayne Semple with ‘Protect Yourself’ and Manuel Perreira with ‘Just Dance’.