King Obstinate thrills Kittitians but angers UPP supporters in Antigua

The legendary King Obstinate

by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Antigua and Barbuda's well known calypsonian Paul Richards, popularly known as "King Obstinate", performed before a large crowd at the official launch of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) Election Campaign over the weekend but has angered supporters of the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) in his homeland of Antigua.

Obstinate, survived a stroke attack just under seven years ago and, according to Antigua and Barbuda's former Health Minister John St. Luce, had to be flown to the US for treatment with assistance from the then Government.

Obsti, as he is affectionately called by many, is a nominee for this year's Caribbean Sunshine Music Awards. He called on the people of St. Kitts to vote for Douglas and his Labour Party on election day.

Five years ago, another popular Caribbean gospel singer, Joseph Niles of Barbados, also performed at a similar function for the SKNLP for which he too came under heavy criticism for getting involved in the local politics.

Obstinate, a declared born-again Christian, since his recovery, touched the crowd as he performed several old-time favourites like One Day At A Time, He Touched Me and others as well as his soca version of Helen Baylor's 1990 hit "Wounded Soldier," a name he has given himself since his stroke attack.

He has however, come in for heavy criticism from sections of the Kittitian population for what some called, openly campaigning for Labour.

“Make sure it is an All 8 on Election Day. You have a good Government. You have a good Prime Minister. We wish we had him in Antigua and Barbuda as our Prime Minister," he told the cheering crowd.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Net News understands that word of Obstinate's statement: "We wish we had him in Antigua and Barbuda as our Prime Minister," reached his homeland, incurring the wrath of several staunch supporters of the ruling UPP government who assumed office just under seven months ago in what the CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington called "an earth shaking change" in the March 23rd poll in Antigua.

A number of UPP supporters are angry with Obstinate for making the statement which they interpret to mean Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer is not doing a good job and has been ''weighed in the balances and found wanting."

However, the Caribbean superstar is brushing aside suggestions that he is campaigning for the SKNLP.

He pointed out that he has seen with his own eyes, the tell-tale signs of victory for Dr. Douglas and his Labour Party adding that, he was never asked to perform any political songs that could be seen as intended to motivate the electorate to vote for the SKNLP. Nonetheless, he admitted, that he did call on the massive crowd to vote the SKNLP back in office on election day, October 25, 2004.

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version