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Trinis warm up Toronto
Posted: Tuesday, November 5, 2002
by Peter Blood
Up north in chilly Toronto, a bunch of nationals resident there hosted another successful Kaiso Breakfast Lime two weekends ago.
Chief cook and bottle-washer George Maharaj told me that, as usual, the place was packed with calypso lovers (more than 100), all hungry for some good calypso and "the scrumptious Trini brunch of bake and buljol, and shark and bake".
At this lime, held at the popular Sylvan's Restaurant, Eglinton Avenue East, parang was introduced for the first time with two "pick-up parang sides" doing their thing.
Kaiso Breakfast Lime T-shirts, sponsored by Amstar Travel, were donned by the regulars for the first time.
Maharaj, a calypso and pan addict, conducted the live calypso segment, which featured Shamela, Luv Bug, The Deacon, Leo, Connector, Yellow and Leo.
Lady Spencer also contributed with her unique rendition of "Lotayla", the tassa drumming of the talented Raymond Family, Cyril and Andrew.
The Kaiso Lime Engine Room, led by Tombay and Selwyn Joseph, also kept a lively rhythm and, when merged with the tassa band, had the place jumping.
Maharaj told me that Curtis Blackman came out of temporary retirement to lead the parang section as well, with a well received Andre Tanker number.
Among those attending the Lime were The Wire North American correspondent Rolph Warner, Sam Lewis, Former Sound Rev drummer "Mose" Lewis, Judith Lezama-Charles, Stanley Gittens, Ann Marie Lee Cheung, Lennox Borrel, Nigel Waithe, Noel Ford, Selwyn Joseph and DJ Garnet.
The day's programme also included an exhibition of The Canadian Hall of Fame photo gallery, and special awards to nationals resident in Maple Leaf country.
Among the recipients of awards were Cyril Raymond and the Raymond Family, and Maharaj, for organising the Trini 40th anniversary cricket match last month.
With a number of supporters of both the PNM and UNC at the Lime, Maharaj said a "National Unity calypso" was played and dedicated to Trinidad and Tobago.
He said: "Selwyn Joseph represented the PNM while yours truly did the honours for the UNC".
He added that a special calypso was also played in memory of Fred Ramkelawan, who passed away recently at the age of 54.
A birthday song and cake celebrated "All the October People" in the house which included, "Gunney", "Deacon", Eulan O'Connor, Ave Morgan, Larry Solozano, Selwyn Joseph, Andrew Raymond and others.
Anslem Douglas and Stanley Gittens donated prizes won by patrons in a Calypso History Quiz segment during the all-day fun event.
The next Lime is scheduled for November 10 at the same venue, with Lindy Burgess and La Petite Musicale billed as its special guest act.
Trini success in Miami
 Yet another Trinidadian is making her mark on the overseas Carnival circuit.
Following in the footsteps of successful Notting Hill Carnival designer Nadella Benjamin is former St James resident Rhonda Berment-Smith, at Miami Carnival.
Taking her first shot at designing mas, Berment-Smith did a costume called "Blue Sapphire Tiara" for Crystal Crichlow in the Junior Queen of Carnival competition, and built "Opal" for Yasmin Berment-Smith as well.
Both costumes placed third in their respective categories at this year's Miami Carnival.
Carnival's newest alliance, a merger of Masquerade and Funtasia, will unveil its 2003 presentation Colours of the Wind to the public this evening.
The launch takes the form of an after-work lime, at the band's camp, 7 Long Circular Road (formerly Little Lisbon).
Scheduled to begin at 5 pm and end at midnight, the band launch will be served by the sweet sounds of Woodbrook Playboyz, Ronnie McIntosh, and DJs Crosby Sounds, CG and Amitaf. Admission is just $10. Also ready for Carnival 2003 is Poison's newest all-inclusive section, Paper Girls.
Comprising young women, Paper Girls is made up of four journalists, a banker and a telecommunications officer, each abundantly skilled in their field of endeavour.
The Paper Girls section, priced at $1,500, is named "Chaconia", a beautiful pink creation that is sure to enhance Poison's presentation of Fleurs de Passion.
Masqueraders playing with Paper Girls are guaranteed breakfast and lunch on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, and drinks on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the group said: "After seeing what has passed for Carnival events and all-inclusive sections in other bands, we decided to team up, to do its thing in collaboration with Poison's Michael Headley and Meg Cheekes."
On the parang train to Georgia
It's not only in Miami and Toronto, Trinis are making their mark in culture.
De Parang Side recently held its Toys 4 Tots fund-raiser in Georgia, at Bridge Cafe in Stone Mountain and raised quite a hefty sum.
Telling about De Parang Side exploits, my former neighbour in Laventille, Ruthven Lequay, explained: "The Toys 4 Tots project is the first annual toy drive, and more than 200 toys were donated/purchased as a result of the event."
Ruthven said the toys have already been shipped to Trinidad and should arrive next week.
He added: "The toys were shipped in care of Keith Smith of the Trinidad Express for distribution by the Laventille Rhythm Section and Studio 66 organisations for distribution at a children's Christmas party to be held in Laventille". Keith has a cousin who is a member of De Parang Side.
Ruthven said De Parang Side isn't stopping with its Toys 4 Tots project but will, on November 16, host its Giving is Good Food Drive fund-raising party, also at Bridge Cafe.
Proceeds from this event will also be sent to Trinidad for underprivileged families.
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