Reigning Calypso monarch Joycelyn Searles aka Sistah Joyce has signalled a strong desire to revive the Calypso art form among youths of the Territory by mentoring primary school youths who are interested. Photo: VINO

Sistah Joyce indicated that she wished to begin working with youths in her hometown of Virgin Gorda, before moving on to schools in Tortola at a later time. Photo: VINO/File

The Calypso queen noted that the competition has not been held for some years now and indicated that she wished to enter schools, with the knowledge and blessings of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) and Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn to introduce the art form to students at the primary level.

“It would be nice to bring back the Junior Calypso Competition and mould the youths from now,” she said. “I know there are a lot of youths who would love to do that but they need that extra push, so I’m willing to devote my time [during my reign] and beyond as well,” she added.

Sistah Joyce indicated that she wished to begin working with youths in her hometown of Virgin Gorda, before moving on to schools in Tortola at a later time.

She noted that there are a lot of writers out there, much like herself, who needed to be nurtured. “Some of the kids, if not most of them would like to write their own little piece while we help them structure it but we can’t wait, we have to get that done now because time is going so fast,” she staed.

Sistah Joyce also shared her encounter in the Leeward Islands Calypso Competition held in Anguilla on August 10, 2013 in which she placed fourth and defined it as a learning experience.

“It was all a learning experience,” she revealed, “I’m the one to beat here in the BVI so I’m going to make sure I have my lyrical armour on so that I could win again next year when such time comes around and then go back to Anguilla and dominate.”

The move of having a Junior Calypso competition among schools was recently endorsed by commentators Natalio Wheatley and Cromwell Smith during the Umoja radio programme aired on August 15, 2013.