Charlestown Nevis (August 5, 2002) After twenty seven years in the shadows of Nevis’ great Kaisonians, Steve ‘Flamingo’ Reid’s patience was rewarded Sunday night when he took the 2002 ODB/CSR/Barclays PLC Senior Kaiso crown with a vengeance, beating his nearest rival by a whooping 29 points.

Flamingo was the second holder of the crown in 1975, having dethroned the inaugural winner, The Mighty Zero, who had won it in 1974. However, Flamingo could only keep the crown for a year, as he lost it, in 1976, to Bahowlah, The Meek (Tyrone O’Flaherty). But the good calypsonian he is, he never gave up. He kept on trying, placing 1st runner-up on a number of occasions.

Presenting two songs, ‘Law and Order’ (where he was dressed as a prisons’ officer) and ‘Fathers’, Flamingo scooped a total of 477 points, while the first runner up, Dis An Dat, Keith Scarborough, got 448 points. Breathing on Scarborough’s neck was newcomer Trevor ‘Daddy Fresh Cold’ Wilkin, with 447 points, to take the second runner-up position.

Others, in order of merit, were: Oscar ‘Astro’ Browne (443 points), Alfred ‘Baker’ Newton (429 points), Calver ‘Garlic’ Swanston (410), Oldain ‘Puppa Wheeler’ Daniel (404 points) and Brent ‘Knolly Banton’ Mitchell (394).

The show was a sell out, as Nevisians and visitors alike thronged the Cultural Complex in Charlestown to see the battle of the giants. Many expressed disappointment by the non-appearance of the defending King Meeko (Crefton Warner) who stayed away, denying himself the chance of a back-to-back win. This is not the first time he has done it in recent years, having stayed out of the competition, even though a defending champion, in 1998 and 2000.

Meanwhile, Culturama 2002 patrons were on Saturday night treated to a straight forward and near hassles free show when a Miss Culture Queen Pageant won in all the four segments of the show, as was her predecessor, Adele Dore, in 2001, to emerge the 2002 Miss Culture. 20-year-old Miss Tamika Lawrence of Hanley’s Estate, with 525 points, beat other four contestants to take coveted crowed in front of a large crowd.

Tamika Lawrence, sponsored by Berger Paints through their local agents, TDC, easily walked away with clear wins in each of the four segments, Talent, Costume, Evening Gown, and Question and Answers, making a big break ahead of the second placed Latesha Pemberton (Miss Nevis Lands and Housing Corporation) who received 433 points. Mandisa Hendrickson (Miss Carib Breweries) was the second runner up.

This year’s Culture Queen show sub-committee used the theme ‘Emerging as a new woman’ to present the five contestants amidst strong opposition by a section of Nevisians who questioned eligibility rules used to pick the contestants. The show was held at the Cultural Complex in Charlestown. Other contestants were Shauna Browne (Miss Nevlec) and Jeanine Walters (Miss Cable and Wireless).