Schools calypso champ sings: You don't have to underdress to impress

THE San Fernando Carnival Committee crowned two South Junior Calypso monarchs in the primary and secondary schools category on Thursday February 13.

Former monarch Xhaiden Darius, a student of Savonetta Private School, topped the results from among five competitors with an optimistic and sobering message in her song, Calypso Will Survive, to win in the primary schools category.

Jimecya Burnett, of New Butler Associate College, sang her way into the hearts of the judges with a powerful message to girls and women to know their worth, and placed first in the secondary schools category.

Burnette, of Point Fortin, was a clear winner from among the competing five in her category, with her complete package consisting of melody, performance, lyrical content and a potent message to young women that they did not have to underdress in order to impress.

In an interview after her win, Burnett said the song was written by Caleb Hinds and spoke to her experience, what she has seen in her family and among her female peers.

"I just wanted to get that message across to young women to value themselves and know their worth.”

Victory caught her by surprise.

“I was not expecting to win. I just came here to deliver a message and this (trophy) just came along. I am grateful,” said Burnette, a semifinalist in Saturday's National Junior Calypso Monarch competition.

Hopefully, she said, she will be selected as a finalist so as to have an even wider platform to share her message of empowerment.

Although being on winners' row is not new for eight-year old Darius, who has been singing professionally since 2021, he did not believe he had the title in the bag.

“Based on the quality of the contestants, I was not expecting to win. I was expecting to come second, because Katelin Sultan was very, very good. I want to say, 'Good job, Katelin'.”

Sultan, a former chutney soca queen winner and Darius's schoolmate, sang Say a Prayer, to place second in the primary schools category.

San Fernando East MP Brian Manning, who attended the show, urged: “All of you young people, pursue your passion. Do what makes you feel happy inside.”

He recalled that an ex-schoolmate at Presentation College, San Fernando named Machel Montano faced strong challenges from some who tried to steer him away from his passion. Manning said everybody wanted Machel to do something other than perform.

“They said he would be a good doctor, so chart a course in biology...but he just wanted to sing.”

Back then, Manning said, that was not the most popular career choice, and no one thought Machel would be able to survive financially if he pursued his passion.

“But he was passionate, he worked hard and today, you all see what he has achieved. So, pursue your passion, do what you truly love and you will be shocked by the results.”

Before the show, San Fernando mayor Robert Parris recalled how impressed he was by the preliminary round of this competition, and was not envious of the judges, who had to select just five from each category for the finals.