Mighty Rebel wins Adult Calypso
Guyana Chronicle
February 19, 2007

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VETERAN Calypsonian Geoffrey Phillips, ‘Mighty Rebel’, emerged winner of this year’s adult Calpyso Competition at the National Park on Saturday night while defending champion Malcolm Corrica, ‘Lord Canary’ placed third.

Phillips whipped contenders, including Corrica, Ras Marcus, Winfield James, Mighty Sniper, Sweet Kendingo, Mighty Roots and Young Bill Rogers, to take the title for a fifth time. He also won in 1988, 1993, 1997 and 2001.

Second and fourth place winners were Ras Marcus and Young Bill Rogers respectively.

Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, Phillips said he was confident of winning the competition throughout, because there was no one whom he really felt was a challenge. However, he said he felt excited because he had not won in six years.

His piece entitled ‘Is we put you deh’, challenged President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was in attendance, not to get complacent with last year’s election victory and work on things which are wrong in Guyana.

Rebel, 61, who resides at Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara (WBD) said he has been singing since 1979 and is thinking about participating in the competition next year. He said he thought of quitting, but fans keep urging him to continue. He received $550,000 as the winner.

Last year’s winner, Corrica, who placed third this time around, emerged the first place winner in the HIV/AIDS category of the competition. This segment was sponsored by the Ministry of Health and the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS).

Corrica, another veteran, won over five other contestants in that category to walk away with the first prize of $250,000.

He told this newspaper that his entry for the general category ‘Let’s get serious” challenged leaders to put Guyana first. “The base is that both politically and patriotically we should get serious in putting Guyana in the right place, which is upward,” he said.

His song dealt with issues such as the migration of skilled persons from Guyana, the cost of living and the Value Added Tax. According to Corrica, with Guyana’s natural resources, the country should be doing much better.

Corrica, who will be celebrating his 70th birthday next month, said he has been singing for the past 50 years. He told this newspaper he made a name for himself singing with persons such as Sparrow, Mighty Thunder, Kitchener and Superior.

He said he felt his composition did not get him the first prize because the lyrics “were too serious.” Corrica plans to be back on the road next year, “Once I am in good health, once I am in good voice.”

He said that finding music is not a problem because he has pieces written and stored. “I have songs ready in advance,” Corrica said, adding that this year’s song was written since 1992.

Both Corrica and Phillips complained that the event was poorly advertised and as such did not attract a large crowd on Saturday night.

The competition kicked off earlier this month at the Blairmont Community Centre while the semi-final round was held in Linden.

The Government Information Agency, in a press release, said the event was also attended by Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy, and Director of NAPS Dr Shanti Singh.