Monique ready to defend Monarchy

Princess Monique Hector, has taken the calypso world by storm, and seems likely to enhance her reputation for winning come Dimanche Gras 2005 when she will be defending the National calypso title.

In the process Monique will be attempting to do the hattrick in capturing the national calypso monarchy for three years in succession. {{more}}

All that may well on the cards if last Saturday’s performance is anything to go by. She achieved the coveted hattrick when she took the Calypso Queen title with the numbers ‘SVG Tops,’ and ‘Homegrown Terrorist.’

Her songwriter Larry Harewood has been pointing the way toward real Caribbean unity. Harewood a primary school teacher in his native Trinidad has been writing for Princess Monique for the past five years.

They have developed a winning chemistry. Harewood is modest about the national hattrick, preferring to refer to it as “an attempt” and said he would be returning here for Dimache Gras when Princess Monique attempts the hattrick when she defends her title.

Harewood, a simple, modest, individual, is perhaps one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most prolific writers. He identified himself as a Caribbean man and sees no conflict in his writing for Princess Monique.

Harewood however confessed that he has been helped in his task with copies of the Searchlight. That was apparent by the timely and appropriate lyrics in the song “SVG tops”.

Harewood explained that he kept in touch with what’s happening in SVG hence that number which outlines the strides SVG has made especially in recent times. The song stands out as a national tribute.

Harewood is an experienced double tenor specialist pannist and his musical wizardry, combined with his literary ability have proved a valuable resource for Princess Monique.

Harewood reflected on the two Caribbean songs which he wrote for Princess Monique last year. He is pleased with the response he got from Vincentian and Caribbean fans, and this year, has opted for the Vincentian tribute in one instance, and an interesting treatise of the treatment of Caribbean women with the number “Homegrown terrorist.”