Winner of the competition last year, King Paido was on March 22, 2016 one of three persons injured in an accident at Fort Hill. One of those persons eventually succumbed to their injuries.
When this news site made contact with King Paido, he confirmed that he was one of the persons involved in the said accident.
Initial investigations indicate that the driver of the tow truck was removing a vehicle from the area when the tow truck slipped. In a chain of reactions which followed, three men on the site including the tow truck driver were injured.
“Yes, I was in the accident,” Phillips confirmed with this news site. He further stated that as a result of the accident he was not going to be defending his Calypso title. “No I can't defend the title [because I am recovering from the accident],” he responded when asked whether he would be defending his title.
“I don't know what they are doing...I don't have any clue. But I know that I won't be going,” he said, when asked what will happen with his Calypso Crown.
For her part, Sistah Joyce said she will not be competing in the competition this year and it was not because she is busy recording an album in Jamaica.
“I ain't got much to say about the calypso thing really. I just ain't singing this year and that's it. I will go up next year God willing. Other media houses want to make a big deal out of it. I really have no comment about any reason why or anything like that. I just ain't singing this year,” she said when this news site contacted her recently.
Asked whether her decision had anything to do with the fact that she is currently recording a reggae album in Jamaica, she said it is not even about that.
Sistah Joyce took the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Calypso Crown in 2013. She placed second in last year's competition.
Contacted for a comment, Public Relations Officer of the Virgin Gorda Festival Sub-Committee Jerrell A. George said that while they have heard about Phillips being involved in an accident, they had no information that he was not going to be participating in the competition. George later confirmed that King Paido was out of the competition.
The Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Calypso Competition will be held on Sunday March 27, 2016 at the Franka Pickering Festiville.
Well me nah go up deh!
Will miss them both this year. King Paido I wish you a speedy recovery and thank God for sparing your life. I imagine it may a difficult time seeing that someone lost their life in the same accident.
Lean on God my brother!
Sad. So so sad. I'm wishing king Paso a speedy recovery. Thats what happen when they don't pay artist. They The Politician F n Up this place. Can't they see are they blind? Can't they hear are they deaf? OMG.
Is there anything happenning in Virgin Gorda on Monday? Have not heard of any boats from Stt or Tortola going over. Will miss your celebration. Is there any reason for this.
Its time we put someone with a strong community relations and with a known musical back ground to run our festivals ..We need to get better. We are losing..I submit these names for consideration. Danelle Flax . Kave Stoutt. Shekera Wheatley Author Selwood...Any one of these people will serve us well.. We are really failing. We need to get better.