On Tuesday, July 9, St Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) employee Malaika Chester will challenge nine others for the title of Inter-commercial Calypso Monarch 2013.
Chester is employed in the LUCELEC Generation Department; she won the title in 2011.
Chester, who goes by the stage name “Miss Kitty”, will compete with “Missing You,” a calypso written by Jon “Buffalo” Odlum. It is a description of old Saint Lucian values and an appeal for their return.
“It’s about Saint Lucia, what we used to be and basically where we are today. What we see today is not what was. These days you can’t correct peoples’ children; back then you could have done that. The song also highlights the contributions of a great number of Saint Lucians. A verse also speaks about our local radio stations and the standards that used to exist in terms of pronunciation and diction,” says Chester.
In addition to Chester, LUCELEC is also providing financial support to its Planning Manager Francis Daniel for his Red Unlimited King of the Band costume. A three-time winner of the competition, Daniel came second in 2012 with his “Mr Karnival”. The Mas Action Carnival Band is also receiving LUCELEC support for its 2013 Queen of the Band Costume “Music Explosion”.
At the start of the 2013 Carnival season, LUCELEC announced its support for a number of calypso tents. They include South Calypso Tent, the Ambassadors Calypso Tent and Soca Village International.
Corporate Communications Officer Roger Joseph explained at the time, the move was in keeping with the company’s support for the arts and the creative industries.
“We see our support for the creative industries as helping to broaden Saint Lucia’s economic base in terms of the number of avenues we have to generate economic activity and financial inflows into the country,” he said.
With a focus on supporting the indigenous aspects of our carnival, LUCELEC will also continue its financial sponsorship of Panorama, the competition between pan sides that is organized by the National Steel Bands Association.
Additionally, Carnival Band Cozy Guzzlers and J’Ouvert Band Bad Company have also received financial support from LUCELEC. This year, Cozy Guzzlers will portray “To Hell and Back” while five-time and current J’Ouvert Band of the Year Bad Company will depict “Lucian Folk Life.”
Saint Lucia Carnival will culminate with the Parade of the Bands on July 15.