Rose wants seniors’ day

This country’s elderly should be honoured by a special day, Senior Citizens Day, former Calypso Monarch Mc Arthur “Calypso Rose” Sandy Lewis said. She made the call on Monday after receiving the Order of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) from President Anthony Carmona at a gala ceremony at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.

Rose, 77, now joins fellow calypsonian Slinger “Mighty Sparrow” Francisco to receive the nation’s highest award in the sphere of culture. A little unsteady on her legs she was helped to walk on-stage where the ORTT medal and ribbon were placed around her neck by Carmona, prompting her to wave to the audience.

Later in her dressing room, Calypso Rose was the image of a long-distance runner wearied by her feats to date yet buoyant in spirit and optimistic she could endure more.

“I am doing alright, but I am tired,” she told Newsday.

She said she had just done 65 shows in Europe and has another 67 ahead of her, largely in the Caribbean and North America.

“My last show was in Oslo (Norway) on Sunday and I arrived back in Paris (France) on Monday and I have to leave on Wednesday to go back to New York (USA). Sixty seven shows.”

Asked how she keeps herself going and if she was eating and sleeping well, Rose replied, “Well I’m eating well but since I come (to TT) is tired, tired, tired.

Everybody calling, calling. Ah need rest!” She thanked Newsday for a past story done on her, a copy of which she cherishes and keeps at her bedside.

Calypso Rose thanked her country for honouring her and said all she has done was for her fans.

Mid-interview, two High Court judges entered Lewis’ dressing room and began singing spiritedly, “Ah goin down San Fernando...” riling up Lewis into forgetting her tiredness and joining in with Justices Gillian Lucky and Eleanor Joy Donaldson Honeywell.