THE most Nalini Sukhram had to say for herself by way of experience when asked to participate in Barbados’ Calypso competition in the upcoming annual Crop Over Festival was “doing a lil something at karokae sessions.” Let’s be honest! She hasn’t much experience before a mass audience. Yet, in an exclusive interview with the Chronicle, she seemed well-rested and confident as she prepared to go on stage last week at the opening of the Bachannal Time Calypso Tent.

The Haslington, East Coast Demerara resident is however watching how the sell-out audience is going to take to the suggestions in her song, ‘GT ADVICE’.

This isn’t some simple advice on how to make Guyanese roti or cook-up rice. Bluntly, she is telling Bajan women to get their act together, or the Bajan men will go for the Guyanese women (See lyrics in side bar).

How did she get to sing the song? After all, by day, she is a diligent worker in this island’s construction sector as painter. “I’m on a work permit!” she lets you know firmly.

As she would explain: “The lyricist, Eric Lewis of Madd Entertainment group in Barbados, and I are mutual friends, and one day, he heard me singing and said there was an issue which needed to be addressed. We discussed the matter about the frequent claims by Barbadian women that Guyanese women were coming to Barbados and getting more attention from the men than themselves. It was also said that while the men were in Guyana, they were falling for Guyanese women.

“It’s not that we are critcising Bajan women. What Eric and I saw was an opportunity to try and correct what was something of an attack on Guyanese women. It could be any nationality. The fact is that a man will leave somebody if they don’t get treated right.”

There have been some criticism that the song, by emphasising the pampering of men and the sex thing gives the impression that Guyanese women are only good for that. What about other qualities such as business affairs expertise on how to manage the family’s finances?

Eric has a different take on the matter: “I would agree there is more to women than what’s in the song, but we are a comedy group, and we only had four minutes (to sing the song). We had to have a focus. I didn’t want to write lyrics that could be discussed at a Gender Affairs workshop at the University of the West Indies.”

And how has the song been doing, seeing that has been getting a lot of airplay on Barbados radio stations? Said Eric: “Yes! We’ve had some good airplay and some good feedback. It even led to what some people would call improvements in some homes. I heard a story of a Bajan man who was at home with a Bajan woman, and when the song came over, he turned up the volume and saw smiles all round from his friends in the house at the time. The next day when he woke up, he found fried plantain, eggs and toast and goat milk, and his working clothes all put out, whereas he never saw too much of that before.”

Nalani, 30, who is the mother of twin boys, 12-year-old Dominic and Daniel, says that she grew up in a Guyanese culture which taught her to “treat our menfolk good.” But in spite of this, she still sees herself as an independent person who expects men to do their part when necessary.

She likes all types of music, she told me while paying a courtesy call at the Guyana Consulate with Eric. She sings soul, oldie goldies, chutney and whatever tickles her fancy.

Eric said he expects to write more songs for Nalini, and that GT ADVICE should soon be on the Guyana market.

I knew Nalini since last month, when she came to renew her passport at the Consulate. This was shortly before the annual Consulate Picnic making the Anniversary of Guyana’s Independence. After she told me the type of work she was doing (painting), in an occupation traditionally reserved for men, and her resourceful and friendly spirit in meeting and mixing with Guyanese as well as Bajans, I decided to give her one of the Consulate Awards.

But I didn’t know she would soon become ‘GT GIRL’, as she is known on stage, until Eric brought her to meet me. Indeed, up to now, not even the Bajan press knows her name or what she looks like.

What a surprise awaited the public and press as the ‘karoake girl from Haslington’ took to the stage last Sunday. Hopefully, it will be taken in good grace and in the spirit of trying to make things better for all concerned in sometimes tense and emotive moments as it relates to present Guyana-Barbados relations.

GT ADVICE (Put this in a box or shade it)
I want all yuh Bajan gals, stop all o’ this complaining

How we Guyanese gals theifing all yuh husbands and yuh boyfriend

Bajan gal stop it right now, stop all de finger pointing

How we Guyanese gals thiefing all yuh husbands and yuh men

Bees does find honey and ants does run to sugar

So don’t blame we if all yuh man like sugar from Guyana

If yuh wanta keep yuh man, darling take my good advice

Some o’ yuh Bajan gal must learn to treat a man nice.

CHORUS 1
So yuh must learn to wine, like de Guyanese

Learn to grind like de Guyanese

Kiss him from toe to head and do all de thing de man like in bed

Kiss him all ova, make him scream and holla

Do things to mek he hir curl

And he ain’t go lef yuh for no Guyanese girl

Every night yuh rubbing down, that does turn off de fella

Bengies Balsam,citronella, candle grease and Alcolada

Yuh sleep in a church dress, petticoat and two brassiere

Got de sheet pull up round yuh neck, and a big parachute underwear

And when de man he pull at you, yuh snap like alligator

Move man, leh muh sleep nuh I gotta get up early tomorrow

And when he find a Guyanese girl to give him good movementation

Yuh get she deport, yuh run and call immigration

CHORUS 2
But yuh must learn to wine, like de Guyanese

Learn to grind like de Guyanese

Kiss him from head to toe and do all de thing de man like in bed

Put he pun de table, put ice cream pun he nable

Do things mek de man holla

He an’t gine want no girl from Guyana

De man wuk hard a whole day, stirring concrete and lifting bricks

Come home looking for a hot meal, you gi de man sardine and biscuits

Meanwhile at Rajeena she got roti and dhal puri

How you expect you gin keep a man, with cornbeef and macaroni

And when de man he wid he friends yuh quarreling and keeping noise

Yuh cuss him, gal yuh cuss him mek him shame in front o’ de boys

When yuh treat yuh fella so he gine find a new partner

A nice sexy girl like me from Guyana

CHORUS 3
Still yuh gonna learn to wine, like de Guyanese

Learn to grind like de Guyanese

Kiss him from head to toe and do all de thing de man like in bed

Yuh must come out de bedroom, try something in the living room

Send de children at dem grandmother

And do things to mek de man bawl for murder