{"id":11355,"date":"2023-03-21T08:25:42","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T12:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/?p=11355"},"modified":"2023-03-21T08:25:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T12:25:42","slug":"dexter-mitchell-good-night-queens-park-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/21\/dexter-mitchell-good-night-queens-park-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Dexter Mitchell-Good Night Queens Park-Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Last year the race was tough to the monarchy<\/em><\/p>\n

Everybody was rough, hard and ready\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n

These are the opening lines to Inspector\u2019s 1991 song entitled,\u00a0They Kill The<\/em>\u00a0King.<\/em>\u00a0Those lines inferred the quality of the Calypso competition in 1990.<\/p>\n

To provide context for 1990 and the five or so years that followed one will have to take a brief historical and political look at Grenada post-Independence.<\/p>\n

The December 1984 General Elections, the first after the 1983 collapse of the People\u2019s Revolutionary Government, was won by the New National Party (14 seats) over the Grenada United Labor Party (1 seat).<\/p>\n

The NNP was founded on August 26th<\/sup>, 1984, through a merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan and the Grenada Democratic Movement led by, Dr. Francis Alexis.<\/p>\n

As leader of the NNP and Prime Minister Mr. Blaize took his fair share of \u201clicks\u201d from the Calypsonians with\u00a0Herbie\u00a0<\/em>(Smokey1986) and\u00a0Dead Horse\u00a0<\/em>(Skylark 1988) immediately coming to mind.<\/p>\n

In January 1989 Dr Keith Mitchell, then Minister of Works and Communications in the Blaize administration, challenged Blaize and was successful in his attempt to become leader of the NNP. Dr. Mitchell was subsequently dismissed from his government post by Mr. Blaize on July 21st<\/sup>, 1989.<\/p>\n

Sadly, while still Prime Minster, Herbert Augustus Blaize, passed away on December 19th<\/sup>, 1989. The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ben Jones became Prime Minister until elections were held on March 13th<\/sup>, 1990.<\/p>\n

The New National Party split with George Brizan and Dr. Francis Alexis forming the National Democratic Congress, which won the 1990 General Elections. The GULP won four seats the NNP and the TNP two each.<\/p>\n

True to form the Calypsonian addressed the signs of an impending break up of the \u201cHouse\u201d (the symbol of the NNP) when Black Wizard orated in his 1987 performance of\u00a0The House<\/em>\u00a0the following chorus:<\/p>\n

\u2018Everyday her walls keep cracking,<\/em><\/p>\n

I can see them pillars shaking,<\/em><\/p>\n

Like she didn\u2019t have no good foundation,<\/em><\/p>\n

Everyday is more erosion,<\/em><\/p>\n

Its rocking to and fro,<\/em><\/p>\n

So if a strong breeze blow,<\/em><\/p>\n

Boy that house will be no more.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

This state of political turbulence and the sadness of losing a seating Prime Minister influenced the songs that were composed and performed during the 1990 Carnival season.<\/p>\n

The Calypsos delivered on Dimanche Gras night, in particular, were a mixture of potent lyrical tunes and some classic party songs.<\/p>\n

Among the offerings were:<\/p>\n