I don’t seem to get Carnival 2006 off my mind. Every now and then I have flashbacks. And I could still see Ijahnya dancing at Landsome Cultural Centre to the songs – the music – of the five veteran calypsonians from Trinidad: Lord Nelson, Sugar Aloes, Black Stalin, the Baron and Shadow. I always saw Ijahnya as a socio-cultural pundit and therefore never ever associated her with dancing, but she certainly gave a good account of herself with her fancy movements. That night, only the dead would not have danced or moved to the rhythm of real sweet calypso.

I don’t seem to get Carnival 2006 off my mind. Every now and then I have flashbacks. And I could see Rodney Rey, a Congregational Steward, dancing non-stop to music of the veterans. Indeed, seeing is believing but I had great difficulty in believing that it was Rodney McArthur Rey whom I saw wining down to vintage calypso music. Never before had I seen him dance. As a matter of fact, I had never seen him go down or bend down except when he kneels at the communion rail at his church, but that night he danced as though he hadn’t a care in the world. The Bible says in the last days we shall see signs and wonders. Rodney’s dancing was one of those wonders.

That show on Friday 4th August was one of the best, of any kind, that I had seen at Landsome Cultural Centre. It was real, authentic, genuine, vintage, indisputable, legitimate and unadulterated calypso. I know most of those adjectives mean the same thing but I do not have a problem with that because no one word could adequately describe the show. It was superb and most memorable performance by the veterans. When it was over Juju and Pris, who had danced all through it, were dripping wet. Not a dry spot on their bodies. How did I know for sure? Pris gave me a wet hug. My shirt did not dry till the following day.

Others in the audience who were not dancing on their feet were rocking on their seats. I could still see Maureen rocking non-stop. At one point, when the music really touched her, she threw her arms in the air as if to say ‘Just as I am without one plea, pour your music all over me’. That night, it was the power of vintage calypso at work bringing joy to all who listened to it and absorbed it. Those veterans of the art form undoubtedly gave our 2006 Carnival a great start.

The momentum was kept up by the other shows. The local Calypso Monarch Competition, which was noted for several good social commentaries, attracted a large and appreciative audience. Sister Vee, glittering in the moonlight, and Sandra, with a permanent smile on her face, enjoyed it to the max. When the singing had stopped it was Queen B’s Something Strange and My Story Continues which won her the coveted Calypso Monarch title – the symbol of calypso supremacy in Anguilla. She relegated the Mighty Springer, who sang two great songs (The OECS and We Coming to Take Back Anguilla Land), to second place and Sunbeam to third place. Repeater who had threatened to stop Sunbeam (the defending king) from shining again could not carry out his threat because Queen B stung him (Repeater) into fourth place. Sunbeam had told Repeater in song:

. . . De fact remain
You can’t stop de sun from shining again . . .

But then Sunbeam seemed to have forgotten that there was a Queen B. It was her who stopped him from shining. She blew out his light and whether it will shine again, only time will tell.

This year seems a relatively good one for Queen B who also holds the local female calypso crown. But it was her capture of the local Calypso Monarch crown which qualified her to compete with the heavyweights in the Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch Competition on 12th August. She did not disappoint us. Although the standard of calypsos in this competition was not as high as in previous years, there were some good performances here and there. I thought that Konris from St Kitts sang well. His Sunday J’ouvert was hot, hot, hot. And I particularly liked Too Old For Dat by Spade from St Thomas.

The MC for the show was Fernando Clarke, of St. Maarten, with humour can’t done. He had everybody splitting. Here is one of his milder jokes: “Many, many years ago Jesus visited Anguilla because the Bible says, ‘He walked through The Valley.’” When the judges’ scores were added up, Edimelo of Antigua was crowned Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch 2006. I congratulate him and also the Mighty Dow of St Maarten who placed second and our own Queen B who placed third.

On another matter, congratulations are also in order for Amber Woodley who won the Miss Anguilla Pageant and is now our reigning Carnival Queen for 2006 - 2007. In second place was Latoya Hughes. I was not at the show and therefore not in a position to make any useful comments except to say that Amber has the capacity to be a good ambassador for Anguilla and to make us proud.

I saw her and Latoya, both overloaded with natural beauty and beaming with youthful excitement, as they led the grand parade of troupes on Friday 11th August. This year the streets of the Valley were awash in music as shower after shower of music poured down on the revellers and spectators alike. The Valley was awash in colour as troupes like Eldorado – the City of Gold; Classical Old Timers – Glamour Gal and Saga Boy; Fire Fly; Rainbow Jollyhighlighters and the Island Majorettes (judged best junior troupe) danced their way around the block.

Acting Chief Minister Victor Banks was in the thick of things. He was in Eldorado. When I came across Eldorado, Victor and others were dancing to the Better Band’s road-march winning song Jam- A – Robics. I can still hear Bookie singing:

Squat and squeeze
Come up and ease.

To the men section’s Bookie shouted: Push up, Push up. But Vic could neither push up nor go down, moreover to squat and squeeze and come up and ease. And Angela for Paper went to the ground with laughter. So while the other men in the troupe were doing that drill, poor Vic stood up as if the band was playing the Anguilla National Song. His body refused to bend. It was as though he had taken an overdose of Viagra.

Vic’s inability to perform as robust as he did in earlier years, did not detract from the excellent performance of Eldorado which won two prizes: the prestigious best troupe; and the largest troupe. The Rainbow Jollyhighters won the prize for second best troupe and Classical Old Timers for third best. The Classical Old Timers also won the prize for the most colourful troupe. Its cast depicted the mode of dress of Anguillian men and women back in the mid-1900s. And the manner in which its members danced, with dignity and modesty, was reflective of the values and way of life of which we were once proud. I loved that troupe and certainly admired the way Linda, Rhona, Amelia, Lelia and others exhibited pride in our past.

Another troupe which impressed greatly was Old Time Culture comprising three subgroups: a cast of men and women, dressed in ‘cruda bag’ clothes, undertaking traditional chores – the women carrying firewood on their heads and the men wielding cutlasses; the Super Flies String Band playing some real ‘old time’ music; and a float displaying various cultural artefacts including household utensils. It also gave live demonstrations on how Anguillians once baked Johnny cakes. The float was a mobile museum. The troupe (Old Time Culture) did not win any of the prizes but it certainly won the hearts of many spectators who enjoyed being reminded of their cultural past.

Our cultural past was also very much alive on August Monday when the J’ouvert jam ended up at Road Bay beach where the revellers waited for the start of the day’s premier event, the boat race. Long before the race had begun the beach was covered with people all basking in the sun and having clean fun. Not to be left out of the festive occasion, the people of St Maarten/Martin launched a friendship invasion of the beach. They landed, in droves from yachts and other sailing crafts, not with guns but with food and drink in their baskets and love and goodwill in their hearts. And they certainly made merry with their Anguillian brothers and sisters. Indeed, we are all one family through blood and history. St Martiners call August Monday St Maarten/Martin Day in Anguilla. I have no problem with that because it definitely does a great deal for the unity of the peoples of the two islands. May we continue to strengthen the bridges that join us together. I often think that if relations among people around the world were like those between St Maarten/St Martin and Anguilla there would be no war, only peace.

And that brings me to the climate of peace and contentment which was one of the hallmarks of Carnival 2006. The climate really exemplified Anguilla’s original tourism slogan Tranquillity Wrapped in Blue. A few hiccups aside, the behaviour of our young people was most encouraging and they should be commended. Highest commendation must also be extended to the Royal Anguilla Police Force for its splendid contribution towards ensuring the tranquillity of Carnival – for its most impressive contribution towards ensuring that Carnival proceeded in a climate in which we all enjoyed ourselves in safety and without fear. The members of the Force undertook their responsibilities most professionally and I know I speak for all Anguillians when I say, congratulations for a job well done.

Sheriff Security, of St Maarten, also did a good job in making sure that things went well at Landsome Bowl. To its men and women, I say a big thank you. But the biggest thank you is for the members of the Festival Committee and its various subcommittees whose dedication and hard work made Carnival 2006 the success it was.

And I don’t seem to get it off my mind. The reason may very well be that it highlighted some of the better – more positive – aspects of Anguillian culture. I saw its beauty and its vibrancy. I saw expressions of the warmth of our people. I saw expressions of their caring and hospitality. (The Mighty Swallow of Antigua claimed, over one of our radio stations, that throughout his lifetime travels he had never been treated as well as he was treated in Anguilla.) I saw joy and confidence on people’s faces. I saw people making merry in ways which gave substance to the notion that in our beautiful island people of all races, classes and creeds live together in harmony. In short, I saw unity, harmony and happiness. I saw an island at peace for which it has always been renowned. And I said to myself, ‘How wonderful! How Nice! Anguilla is still paradise!’

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