Two For Two: Caribbean Queen Wins VI Carnival Calypso Monarch

ST. THOMAS — Temisha Libert, known on stage as Caribbean Queen, won the St. Thomas Carnival Calypso Monarch held on Saturday night, and with it growing respect as a force to be reckoned with in local calypso, after winning the Crucian Christmas Carnival crown in December 2015.

Ms. Libert’s victory did not come easy this year. She faced stiff competition from performers like Nikki Smith, who placed first runner-up with challenging and well-written songs like “More Of The Same” and “Tell Me”, and calypsonian Broc-Lee, with his own competitive songs including “As One Gone A Next One Come”.

But Ms. Libert stayed ahead with songs that were not only well-arranged, but also stage performances that matched the messages she was trying to relay. For example, during the second round, Ms. Libert performed “Unity Is Power”, a song that highlights the togetherness of races — including Indians, Russians, Arabs and Chinese, among others — but the black race, which Ms. Libert said is an intelligent people — continues to fight down each other, according to the song. As she performed, Ms. Libert slowly made her away across the stage, holding a serious face and body language that called for her audience to pay keen attention to her lyrics. It was a strategy she executed well.

Following her win, Ms. Libert told The Consortium that she was overwhelmed by the victory, and immediately proceeded to thank her team and all those who have supported her.

“Last year I came hard and got first runner-up, but I said I was definitely going to come back this year to make sure I got that crown, and I did that,” she said. “Anguilla, look out for Caribbean Queen,” Ms. Libert added, referring to the Leeward Islands Calypso competition which will be held in Anguilla this year.

The event took place at the Lionel Roberts Stadium here. While not at capacity, the competition saw strong turnout of mostly people in their forties and up. Event host Daren Stevens said much thought should be given to raising the winning calypsonian’s award to $15,000, and the first runner-up’s to $7,500, which he said would encourage more participation from a younger generation of artists, who would bring their followers and in turn make for a better show. And Mr. Stevens said the committee in charge of the Calypso Monarch should elicit help from E.D.C. companies in the territory — operating in the U.S.V.I. at a near 100 percent tax-free status — as sponsors of the annual show.

Governor Kenneth Kapp, along with former governor Charles Turnbull, was in attendance. Calypsonians sang multiple numbers blasting Mr. Mapp for calling Senator Janette Millin Young a “setty fowl,” and chided him on other decisions they perceived to be ill-advised. But the most daring attack came from former Calypso Monarch winner King Yellow Man, who employed a no-holds-barred approach, calling Mr. Mapp a “corrupt son of a…” (he left the last word out), and even brought a man dressed as a setty fowl on stage.

Nikki Smith, also assailing the governor with a song titled, “Tell Me”, took a more tactful approach, singing that she was ashamed of Mrs. Millin Young for attacking the governor, but pounding Mr. Mapp for taking the bait and insulting the senator and calling her a “jackass.”

Even so, the night was filled with lighthearted humor, aided by the wit of visiting calypsonians and the territory’s very own Super Tee, who brought the crowed to tears with his performance of “She Bum Blow Up”.

He won the award for most humorous performance.

Visiting calypsonians included Baker Junior, Dice, Ajamu and Trinidad legend Crazy.