School Mass Action also took home the best design accolade with 383pts with Lucian Spirit in second with 368 pts and Rituals Mardi Gras in third with 337 points. The most colorful award was narrowly won by Lucian Spirit with their portrayal of “Jambo Africa” with 374pts, Mas Action’s 370 in a close second and Rituals with 318.5 points rounding off the top three in the category. The Mass on the move honors went to one of the bands that have taken advantage of its numerical supremacy in recent years.

Red Unlimited won the title for the third consecutive year making it in the words of band leader Thaddeus Antoine – the official party band on the road. Badd Company is the Jouvert Band of the year with 411 points followed by Mudsters with 337 points and Just 4 Fun Blue Devils with 306.5 points. The satirical ole mass category continued in 2009 with word play and punch lines featuring current affairs of the day.

Mathew Mark’s portrayal of “Amy Whinehouse looking Funny Funny” emerged the overall winner while the “Witch Conference” by Robert Calderon came in second. And once again - Ricky T - proved his dominance on the road winning his fourth consecutive Road March title with “Jumbie.” He won previously with “Container,” “Pressure Boom,” “Wheel and Come Again.”

The King and Queen of the Bands competition was adversely affected by inclement weather on Sunday night – at least three costumes did not get judged. Nevertheless - Marvin Dorville of Rituals won the King of the Bands title with “Vaval: Spirit of the Mass” followed by Ethelbert “Ace High” Willies’s “Catch of the Day” from the Mas Action mas camp and new band - Royalites Extreme’s Barry George capturing third with “Zulu Warrior.” ZiZi Pitcain from Mas Action was the Queen of the Bands with 433 pts.

The results were independently verified by auditor Augustin Emile from Emile& Associates. There is still one issue that has not been resolved-the individual awards for the various bands. Officials of the Cultural Development Foundation say the plan to settle the matter at a meeting with interested parties soon.

Suzuki Escudo during a routine search operation. The suspect has been charged and is to report to the Marchand Police station daily from Monday to Friday. He is due back in court on July 27th. Law enforcement also made a major breakthrough in the slaying of Anthony Mathurin who was killed one week ago following the Power Soca Monarch final in Marchand. The 27 year old was gunned down at the intersection of Arundell Hill on Marchand Road.

A suspect is now in police custody. He was nabbed on Sunday in the Corinth suburb of Gros-Islet. Law enforcement credits the co-operation of the general public for the breakthrough in that particular case since the suspect had dramatically changed his look at the time of his arrest. They say public support is vital in bringing closure to many of the disturbing criminal cases that remain unresolved.

Council out of blame’s way. Vaughn Louis-Fernand says despite financial constraints, the CCC ensures its sanitary department workers have the necessary protective wear. Louis-Fernand says he has not seen the Acting Labour Commissioner’s letter, but says there is no need for a policy governing sanitary workers at the CCC. He says the current procedures are more than adequate.

The Deputy Town Clerk says his men are protected – and work well. Case in point - the clean up after Carnival
Louis-Fernand says the Council garbage collectors could be seen cleaning up the city almost as soon as the festivities were over. The Castries City Council is responsible for garbage collection around Castries. The Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority and a number of private companies oversee collection in other areas.

Gregory Richards is the President of the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs. He says the inaugural programme will teach the junior officers to become the future leaders of the Region’s Fire Departments. The training is also an opportunity for the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs to invest in younger officers. The man responsible for policy within the association - Andre West – says young fire fighters often feel that not enough is being done for them. He says this training aims to change this perception.  

Junior Officers from Saint Lucia, Dominica, St. Croix, Monsterrat, Belize and the British Virgin Islands are taking part in the week long programme. The programme will include a leadership symposium and FEMA Incident Command System Certification. It ends on Friday.

Pep was followed by Walleigh from the Take Over Tent. The former Calypso Monarch performed “Todays Child” and “Land of Absurdity.” It was a placement Walleigh said proved his song to be true. Three-time Calypso Monarch Educator placed third with his “Three Wishes” and “Negre Mawon” He says it is a place he fought hard for having not placed high in the previous quarter-final and semi-final rounds.

Fourth place went to former Calypso Monarch TC Brown with his upbeat numbers that featured several aspects of Carnival including pan players and j’ouvert revelers. His two numbers were “Carnival Coming” and “’Ol School”

There were 11 calypso finalists – ten versus then reigning Monarch Herb Black who did not retain any of the titles he won last year. Of the 11 – three were women – including heavy favourite Lady Spice – none of whom were able to crack the top four. The Calypso Monarch title went to the Ambassadors Calypso Tent – a victory that meant the Take Over Tent won four of the five titles it secured in 2008.

Coming in second was Vincentian Soca Monarch – Skinny Fabulous. Performing his 2009 song, “De Beast Leggo” instead of “Head Badd” - the song he won the 2008 title with – a situation organizers could not explain on competition night – Skinny Fabulous wowed with a song that also captured seventh place in the Road March contest. Third place went to the fire city man – Illah Man with “I want my money back.” Illah Man secured his place with a fiery performance that included a new verse asking the crowd to ask for their money back if he did not win the title.

A number of countries including Trinidad, Guyana and two representatives from Grenada participated in the 2009 competition. It was without Barbados and the BVI who were waylaid by flight issues. The competition was held at the Mindoo Phillip Park.