Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--He tried for four years, unsuccessfully, to capture the Road March crown as a junior Calypsonian; however, on Saturday evening, he won it on his first attempt as a senior Road March competitor. Rumari "The Messenger" Rogers is the new Senior Road March King after winning the title at the NAGICO Senior Calypso Eliminations and Road March Competition.
The new King was emotional in revelling with his family, friends and supporters after his victory was announced. He and his brother, the reigning Calypso Monarch Ruminni "The Protégé" Rogers, now hold both Senior crowns.
Their father, Carlyle Rogers, himself a Calypsonian, expressed pride at seeing his sons reach the pinnacle of the art-form they love. Rumari was crowned by Minister of Culture Rita Bourne-Gumbs.
The Messenger had to hold off five other Road March contenders to capture the crown, including a highly energetic and heavily supported singer in the person of Apple Jacks. His song "Rep Your Flag" was clear and to the point: St. Maarten is made up of various nationalities and he wanted these nationalities to "rep" their flag as part of St. Maarten's Carnival, which has always been a welcoming festival.
Dominated by the St. Maarten flag and the St. Maarten Carnival flag, it was Rumari's performance of his song that set him apart. He actually wore a St. Maarten flag as a cape. During his performance he was joined by waves of well-coordinated Carnival revellers in elaborate costumes. Members of the performing team waved various Caribbean flags while on and off stage with the new King.
"Congratulations to the new King. We all know how hard all of the singers work, but Rumari has remained determined and did not lose faith after coming close so many times. It's a great accomplishment to win at this level and we expect to see much more of him in the future. Congratulations to the Rogers family who continue to turn out kings," President of the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) Mike Granger said, adding that kudos go out to all singers who did an "awesome job" in representing Road March.
