It’s been a long, bumpy journey of squabbling tent executives, but a ‘group of 21’ appear confident that a strong, national organisation will emerge this weekend to lead calypsonians into Carnival 2010 and beyond.

What started as an impressive mass meeting of calypsonians and interested parties to re-organise the defunct St. Lucia Calypsonians Association (formed in 1975), dwindled to 21 people on December 12, last year. But the process continued nonetheless, and the 21 attendees emerged as the foundering members of St. Lucia Calypsonians Association 2009 (SLAC 2009).

What do you do when you’re ready for parade of the bands and the rain doesn’t stop? You just jump of course; and keep jumping.

There was no other option for hundreds of revellers on carnival Monday who made the best of mas in the rain, while hoping for the crucial announcement that would make carnival Tuesday a better bet.

The downpours were not enough to stop determined revellers who stuck to the long route up to the 6p.m. mandated end of revellery, although it was rain, rain and more rain almost from the jump-off of the main action for Carnival 2K9 “Nothing Sweeter Dan Dat”.

We all know it, been saying so for years. Something about the show on the Sunday before j'ouvert just seems out of sync. The joint event featuring the King and Queen of the Bands and the Caribbean Soca Monarch completion, gives me the notion that it's just slotted in because it can't fit anywhere else.

I've looked at the routine for the last four years and it's become pretty predictable ... a sprinkle of a crowd gathers to watch the first segment of the show (can barely 200 be called a crowd @ Mindoo Philip Park?) and then just as the Soca show is about to begin, the "j'ouvert army" converges en mass.

Crime and government ineptitude took centre stage at the 2009 calypso monarch finals on Saturday night, with domestic violence and some inspirational references to Obama thrown in.

There were new songs and new verses, as Saint Lucians enjoyed the finals under clear skies after being threatened with a rained-out show. The audience needed serious fortitude as the last artiste took the stage after almost five hours later in a show that was at times in need of a dose of excitement.

The long evening began only 28 minutes late with guest artistes Pelay asking “who make that mistake?” It seemed the audience was asking that same question as the show went on with performances that while good, did not quite wow.

'Time to Go' by the Ambassador's Calypso Tent's Dean Roberts, has also been banned in Saint Lucia on "The Nation's Station". The reason? It is potentially libellous. Here are the lyrics. What do you think?