Checko and the road to the Calypso finals

The Mighty Checko calypso new comer through to the finals.

Checko’s timely, effervescent and popular songs, AM/PM and Bug are receiving rave reviews and are giving him a good chance of capturing the crown. His songs along with the high record number of anti-government political songs this carnival season are creating an awakening and large network of Dominicans who are anti-corruption minded and abhor abuse of power, bad and arrogant governance.

These songs put a human face to the cries of the people to the scandal and corruption ridden Skerrit administration. 'Something is Happening'.

Checko reminded me that last year he was the first runner up in the South East Calypso Carnival competition in La Plaine with his song ‘Buy 2’. The song referred to the ‘declared’ winner of the La Plaine constituency, Mr. St. Jean, in the 2009 ‘Vep for Vote’ General Elections. St. Jean, a born again Christian and preacher traded in his bible and pulpit to be an apostle of the belligerent Roosevelt Skerrit.

Mr. St. Jean won La Plaine by two (2) votes after some 80 Diaspora Dominicans were air lifted on expense-free excursions to flood the polls in the constituency and vote for the Labour party in exchange for a free plane ride and pocket change.

Checko’s song speaks to the excesses and the stealing of the La Plaine seat by the government after spending some $22, 000,000.00 on the general elections. ‘Buy 2’ mentions the sad divisions which now exist in our once close- knit rural community as a result of the elections thanks to ‘Brother’ St. Jean and Skerrit.

I caught up with Checko via telephone late one night as he was driving back to La Plaine deep in the rain forest just past Pond Casse in the interior after attending band practice in Roseau.

He was my next door neighbour in the La Plaine valley and I remember holding him when he was a two year old toddler while talking to his late dad, retired Police Sgt. Gabriel (Gabe) Jno-Baptiste who died in 1998.

I told him that we are very proud of him and even if he does not win the competition, he is already a champion. Certainly he has won the hearts and minds and of all rational, patriotic and progressive Dominicans.

I asked him if he feared victimization by the police high command and the political directorate. His response was that he does not meddle in partisan politics but as a Christian, family man and patriot, he lets his conscience be his guide and let God take care of the rest.

His mature and confident response was a nostalgic and emotional moment for me. It reminded me of the stories my grandfather told me about the courage and leadership qualities which our forbearers like Mr. Pierre Colaire possessed.

Colaire courageously lead a small band of barefooted peasants against British Colonial Governor Smith and his heavily armed troops on a hillside in Cas O’ Gowrie in 1872 to regain and retain their dignity and that of generations to come.

I told Checko that he is living on the old La Plaine spirit of respecting the law and authority but not being intimated by them or seeking authentication or favor from the privileged and powerful.

La Plaine folks hold the view that respect is earned and not given just because one has power, privilege or position especially when these positions are gained by unethical and devious means. This explains why Mr. St. Jean is not well regarded or respected in our community.

Constable Jno-baptise conducts his duties without fear or favour and is a highly respected officer having acted Corporal once. He takes great pride and honor in the conduction and execution of his law enforcement duties.

Former Police Commissioner Lestrade was instrumental in the recruitment of Abel to the force. The former commander said, ‘Sgt. Gabe was one of my mentors before I left La Plaine to join the force in the late 60s. His son is an all rounded officer who is a disciplined family man with deep Christian values’.

If Checko wins the crown, then shouts will be heard from the ‘La Plaine massive’ from Laronde to London, Cas O’Gowrie to Canada and from the banks of the Sari–Sari to those of the Hudson, Raritan and Potomac rivers in New York, New Jersey and Washington DC. Then again, Dominica has already won with checko’s thought provoking and soul searching songs.