SEVEN inmates from Women’s Prison, Golden Grove Convict Prison and Maximum Security Prison (MSP) faced judges on January 25 when they stepped on stage at the Unattached Calypso Competition in the Belmont Community Centre to vie for a place in Calypso Fiesta, the semifinal leg of the National Calypso Monarch competition.
They sang to the audience and calypso judges about violence and crime; morals, values and ruthless gangs – some of the most concerning problems in this country. Avelon Lett, 23, in prison for 4 ½ years, had already made history as the first female inmate to qualify for the national calypso queen finals.
Singing Seedlings in Society, petite and soft-spoken Letts doesn’t hold back on stage, criticising violence, guns and gangs in a strong, confident voice.
“Youths today can’t read or write,” she sand, “so they sign record deals with Trini Bad, and kill everyone in sight.”
Lett believes children aren’t getting the support and mental nourishment they need so instead of being thriving seedlings, they are growing like weeds.
“I’d like people to stop blaming young people for the country’s problems. Society needs to take more responsibility and realise education is a problem. It’s not meaningful,” said Letts.
Letts attended St Francois Girls’ College and has seven CXC passes. She warns against stereotyping people.
“I have both parents. Some people don’t have both parents and an education, but they don’t end up in prison.”
Shanice Alleyne, 32, has been in prison for six years and eight months. Her calypso Letters vs Numbers tells the story of Trinidad gangs.
“The song came from an argument with another inmate and grew into a song I wrote in two weeks,” says Alleyne. Alleyne said she sings so her 12-year-old daughter can see her perform on stage.
Alleyne’s calypso focuses on education. “Long ago children were taught, now it’s about what gang you’re in,” said Alleyne.
Anthony Julien, 61, from Golden Grove Prison, grew up in San Fernando. His calypso, Message to the Youths is a plea for young people to find good role models and listen to good advice. Julien’s calypso and voice wowed the audience in last Sunday’s competition as he sang, “You don’t have to follow people who will carry you to do evil. You weren’t born to be a robber. Your father wasn’t born to be a murderer.”
Like other inmates, he is aware of those critical of inmates participating in Carnival. Julien said, “There’s always room for people to make changes. It doesn’t make sense to push people further down in life. Not everyone in prison murdered. There are a lot of people in prison who are innocent You can’t paint everyone with one brush.”
Kevin Cudjoe, 32, has the most surprising calypso, a humorous allegory about vegetables fighting with each other while they are cooking on the stove. It’s a clever socio-political double entendre that captures the absurdity of political infighting. Cudjoe says, “It makes sense. When I look around and see how politicians behave it feels like this song. It’s meant to be a funny song for
