SANTA ROSA, by Melan Garcia

SANTA ROSA, by Melan Garcia from Maximilian Forte on Vimeo.

Lyrics (by Melan Garcia):

The Caribs are a peaceful people

This is what we know.

And Arima is the home of Caribs

From many years ago

Long ago.

So look back and I am sure that you will agree with me

That somewhere in your family you have Carib ancestry

Sing me with, now...

Santa Rosa

The feast that holds us all together.

Santa Rosa

Come sing you people from Arima.

Had it not been for the older folks

Then none of us would know

We wouldn't know...

Santa Rosa was found by three men

In that village called Pinto

In Pinto.

The three men were Raimundo, Punyan, and Puyon.

So now you see, my people, this is history put in song.

Sing along, with:

Santa Rosa

The feast that holds us all together.

Santa Rosa

Come sing you people from Arima.

Yes, we learned too that the hunter went back

To where the Saint was found

And on that very spot they found her necklace and her crown

And her crown...

The crown was made with roses of colours real distinct

That is why we use the colours of red, yellow, white, and pink.

What you think was...

Santa Rosa

The feast that holds us all together.

Santa Rosa

Come sing you people of Arima.

***** ***** ***** *****

Filmed by Maximilian Forte in September, 2006, at the cannon on Calvary Hill in Arima. The filming was done in late afternoon just as the sun was setting, and the camera faces south, overlooking the centre of Arima.

Melan Garcia, a well known parrandero from Calvary Hill in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, in the past played with Los Tocadores and Rebuscar.

For many years he served as an Arima Borough Councillor, representing Calvary Hill, for the People's National Movement. He is also tied to the Carib Community and has Indigenous ancestry.

ARIMA WAS, by Melan Garcia

ARIMA WAS, by Melan Garcia from Maximilian Forte on Vimeo.

Lyrics (by Melan Garcia, originally transcribed by Guanaguanare)

In years gone by, this ent no lie

And I am sure you'll remember

Arima was a place with plenty water

We fertile soil, that and all spoil

We hardly getting good cassava

Quarries and farms polluting our rivers.

Chorus:

So let us try and see

If we could make Arima just like it used to be

Don't mind, don't mind, we population more

But is we, the Arimians, to make it like before

We have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was. Woh oh ho

Yes, we have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was.

The Spanish came and settled here

Along with peons from Venezuela

Together they did big plantations for we

Then came the French and Africans

Who accepted parcels of land

You see, Arima was always cosmopolitan. Yes, man!

1797 British came, planted their flag and left their name

In 1806 we got some Chinese too

East Indians joined up in the fun

Followed closely by the Syrians

That's true, Arima was one big pot of callaloo.

Chorus:

So let us try and see

If we could make Arima just like it used to be

Don't mind, don't mind, we population more

But is we, the Arimians, to make it like before

We have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was. Woh oh oh

Yes, we have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was.

Yes, Arima, this Easter star

Wallen bought a Dial and give her.

A gift you'll hardly find any other place

Them years ago was love for so,

But where the love gone, boy, I don't know

I think is since they open the Yankee base.

Oh, Arima, oh, Arima!

Like we heading for a disaster

I think is time we call upon The Master

Is endless crime, a waste of time!

Rape and robbery, even mass murder

Well, if it ent Sodom, well is Gomorrah.

Chorus:

So let us try and see

If we could make Arima just like it used to be

Don't mind, don't mind, we population more

But is we, the Arimians, to make it like before

We have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was, Woh oh oh

Yes, we have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was.

***** ***** ***** *****

Filmed by Maximilian Forte in September, 2006, at the cannon on Calvary Hill in Arima. The filming was done in late afternoon just as the sun was setting, and the camera faces south, overlooking the centre of Arima.

***** ***** ***** *****

Melan Garcia, a well known parrandero from Calvary Hill in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, in the past played with Los Tocadores and Rebuscar. For many years he served as an Arima Borough Councillor, representing Calvary Hill, for the People's National Movement. He is also tied to the Carib Community and has Indigenous ancestry.

Welcome to Wendy Guevara

It was my pleasure to correspond with Wendy Guevara, a Carib descendant from Trinidad, who has earned recognition as a wonderful jazz singer. You can learn more about Wendy Guevara and her music at:

www.myspace.com/wendyguevara

and
www.wendyguevara.com

Welcome again Wendy and very best wishes!

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Mourn Only That You Will Not See Andy Again in this Life

Andy Palacio had such a brilliant and soaring 2007 that few would have expected such a drastic change in 2008, with his departure from our little scene. Many people, let alone his close family and friends, will be heartbroken by his departure. It is in moments like these that I remember the wise words of the late Carib Queen, Justa Werges, when she said, with a smile and light in her eyes as if seeing far into the distance: "My people live in a green valley and they have prepared a home for me with them. When I leave this earth I will be surrounded by the beautiful faces of my people and I will live with them forever in that valley". Andy Palacio has gone on to join his loved ones, his ancestors, all those he knew that have passed on, and his music in that other place is now more wonderful than ever. Sad are those who are left behind to wait for the day when they too can sing with Andy.

So say it loud and let it ring
We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last.
(Charlie Daniels)

Good men must die, but death can not kill their names.
(Proverbs)

Andy Palacio Passes On

Belizean Musician Andy Palacio Passes Away After Heart Attack and Stroke

January 19, 2008 - Andy Palacio, an iconic musician and cultural activist in his native Belize and impassioned spokesperson for the Garifuna people of Central America, was declared dead tonight at 9pm Belize time due to a massive and extensive stroke to the brain, a heart attack and respiratory failure due to the previous two conditions.

Palacio, 47, started feeling poorly last week and eventually visited a doctor with complaints of dizziness and blurred vision. On the 16th of January, he began experiencing seizures and was rushed to a hospital in Belmopan, Belize and then on to another hospital in Belize City. At this point, most people were hopeful Palacio would recover.

On January 17th, Palacio's condition worsened and he began experiencing more seizures. He was placed on an air ambulance to Chicago where he was expected to get treatment at one of the premier neurological facilities in the country. En route to Chicago, the plane stopped in Mobile, Alabama to clear immigration. At that point, Palacio was unconscious and it was determined that he was too ill to continue on the flight to Chicago. He was rushed to a hospital in Mobile, and placed on life support. There, doctors determined that the damage to his brain function was severe, and that his chances of recovery were slim. On January 18th, his family requested that he be flown back to Belize so that he might die in his homeland.

A national hero in Belize for his popular music and advocacy of Garifuna language and culture, news of Palacio's condition sent shockwaves through the community. At 5pm today, a public service was held in Belize City for Palacio as people prayed for his recovery. Ceremonies were also held by Garifuna spiritual leaders in an effort to help with the situation. Belize is in the midst of a heated election, but the local news was entirely dominated by Palacio's health crisis.

The reaction has also been strong around the world. Until the recent turn of events, the past year had been one of tremendous accomplishment for Palacio as his album Wátina, which was released at the beginning of 2007, had become one of the most critically acclaimed recordings of the year in any genre. Perhaps the most unanimously revered world music album in recent memory, Wátina appeared on dozens of Best of the Year lists in major media outlets around the globe and was roundly praised in glowing terms.

In 2007, Palacio was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace and won the prestigious WOMEX Award. Wátina was also nominated for the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards. At home in Belize, the international success of Wátina has sparked a revival of Garifuna music, as young musicians have become inspired by Palacio's example. Even in the days since Palacio's health crisis began, the accolades have continued to pour in for his work.

That Palacio has been struck down at a moment of such international acclaim only increases the sense of shock and tragedy felt at his sudden and untimely death.

Andy Palacio will be honored with an official state funeral. A massive tribute concert is planned in Belize City on Friday, January 25th.

Friends and supporters are invited to post messages in memory of Andy Palacio to his MySpace page (www.myspace.com/andypalacio) as well as to the blog of his international record label Cumbancha (http://cumbanchamusic.blogspot.com/).

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Garifuna Musician Andy Palacio in Grave Condition

From

http://blog.myspace.com:80/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=141640536&blogID=348839894

--notice forwarded by CAC editor, Cheryl Noralez:

Dear Friends:

We're deeply saddened to report that Andy Palacio has experienced what was apparently a severe heart attack and is in grave condition. He is currently on life support and the prognosis is not good. We are all hoping for a miracle and that Andy will regain consciousness, but at this point this does not seem likely.

Andy started feeling poorly a few days ago and visited a doctor with complaints of dizziness and blurred vision. On Wednesday he began experiencing seizures and was rushed to a hospital in Belmopan, Belize and then on to another hospital in Belize City. The doctors initially though Andy, who was still conscious and communicative at that time, had experienced a stroke, and were even diagnosing multiple sclerosis at one point. At this point, we were all hopeful Andy would recover.

Yesterday, Andy's condition worsened and he began experiencing more seizures. Andy is a national icon in Belize, and the story of his illness has not only been big news there, the Prime Minister has been putting his full support behind Andy's treatment. When Andy's condition started to decline, he was placed on an air ambulance to Chicago where he was expected to get treatment at one of the premier neurological facilities in the country.

En route to Chicago, the plane stopped in Mobile, Alabama to clear immigration. At that point, Andy was unconscious and it was determined that he was too ill to continue on the flight to Chicago. Andy is currently in a hospital in Mobile, Alabama where he is in a coma. His cousin is by his side and Andy's daughters will be arriving shortly .

It is impossible to describe the pain we feel from this unfathomable tragedy. We will notify you if we hear any significant updates on Andy's condition. In the meantime, keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Ivan Duran (Stonetree) and Jacob Edgar (Cumbancha)
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