‘De Bear’ claws his way to top

ST JOHN’S – Keithroy De Bear Morson claimed his second Calypso Monarch crown on Sunday night as the annual Carnival celebrations neared fever pitch in Antigua.Morson displaced 2009 monarch Trevor Zacari King, who finished in the first runner-up position. King’s daughter, Princess Thalia, was the second runner-up.The new monarch sang Leopard Come Home and Don’t Sing ‘Bout De Judgement, the latter dealing with the landmark court ruling handed down by Justice Louise Blenman that voided the election of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and two of his Cabinet ministers. That matter is currently the subject of an appeal. Morson, who migrated here from Montserrat in the 1990s, previously won the Antigua Calypso Monarch crown two years ago to add to his 1993 title from his homeland.Following the calypso finals, thousands of revellers danced to the most popular songs of the Carnival for the massive early morning J’Ouvert street party, which preceded two days of Mas.Costumed revellers took to the streets of St John’s yesterday afternoon for the judging of troupes and then again this afternoon for the parade of troupes and groups.In the Party Monarch competition Saturday night, multiple-winner Claudette “CP” Peters made a triumphant return after a one-year break, winning the Groovy Monarch segment with her tune We Jammin.Tian Winter, who won both crowns in Peters’ absence last year, retained the Jumpy Monarch title after creating a Hurricane at the Antigua Recreation Grounds.  Peters finished one spot behind Winter in the Jumpy Monarch, with the result being flip-flopped in the Groovy Monarch segment.David Lord Satellite Edwards of the popular Burning Flames band was the second-runner up in both segments of the competition.As a result of his victory in the local competition, Winter secured an automatic bid in the 2011 International Soca Monarch competition in Trinidad, while Peters has been granted a berth in the semi-finals of the groovy segment of the International Soca Monarch. (CMC)