A Letter From the Ground

By Candy Edwards

Introduction

Vincentians, particularly Carnival lovers were in shock when we received the news that Roy Ralph, the Dragon had left us for the great beyond. Over the past four decades or so Roy Ralph had emerged as the single most outstanding exponent of mas and masquerading in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and perhaps the rest of the English speaking Caribbean. Roy was a household name that has been long associated with the artistry, colour, pageantry and splendour of Carnival celebrations in this country. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has indeed lost one of its greatest sons.

I know that the host of this programme, Randy Dopwell has had a very close relationship with the Dragon spanning more than four decades. I have listened to Randy during the course of the week and I am convinced that Roy and Randy were like siblings. They were family. I would therefore like to extend my condolences to you Randy on the loss of a good Comrade. I also invite your listeners to join you today in paying tribute to the life of Roy Ralph the Dragon.

I heard you, Randy. This is not a time for mourning. It is a time for celebration. I therefore deem it a distinct honour and privilege to join you and the family, friends and colleagues of Roy Ralph in celebrating his life.

Who was Roy Ralph

Roy Ralph was a humble trade man from the Sion Hill area. A plumber by profession, he worked for several years with the government at this craft. Indeed, it is generally accepted that Roy was a good plumber. However, this is not the occupation that made him a household name in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Roy “the Dragon” Ralph was the greatest mas man that ever lived in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He did the most to advance the Carnival art form in this country.

Roy brought out his first Carnival band in 1966 after parting company with the late Moby Dick with whom he was earlier associated. His first portrayal as an independent band leader was a depiction of the Aztec civilization. Roy’s first Band of the Year and King of the Bands titles came in 1972 with a portrayal entitled, “Hairoun Splendour of Nature”. Throughout his long and illustrious career as a mas man, Roy won about ten Band of the Year and seven King of the Bands titles. This is a feat unmatched by any other mas-man in this country. Although he ceased active band leadership some years ago, Roy never stayed out of the festival. His last hours found him in a mas tent helping out. He was Mr Carnival right up to the hour of his departure.

Roy’s Memorable Portrayals

Roy Ralph was a creative genius if ever there was one in this country. This led him to create some of the most spectacular and memorable costumes that ever crossed the stage at Victoria Park. Portrayals such as,”Just my Imagination”, “Mas on the Moon” and “From Granby to Halifax Street”, are just a few of the presentations that have marveled Carnival lovers over the years. King of the Bands costumes such as “Hurricane” and “Two Man Rat Can’t Live in One Hole” will never be forgotten for the sheer beauty and ingenuity that they reflected. Even today, people still speak highly of these and other portrayals done by Roy. I do not think that any other mas man has been able to ignite the imagination of mas lovers in this country as Roy did.

Roy’s Legacy

It is a cliché but it is true. Roy is gone but can never be forgotten. He has left us a rich legacy that we must do everything to preserve. Several leading exponents in Carnival have sat at the feet of the Dragon where they learnt their craft. Today, they too have continued to demonstrate excellence and creativity in their productions each year. The Dragons Cultural Organization is still a force to be reckoned with; Blondie Bird and Friends is now a household name; and SVG Players is holding its own. These three mas bands have one thing in common. They all emerged from the associations their leaders had with the Dragon, the late Roy Ralph. It is naturally expected that these bands will maintain or even surpass the high standards set by their mentor and teacher.

Apart from the mas-bands he inspired, Roy’s legacy is reflected in the generally high standard of Vincy Mas. It is true to say that the Dragon raised the bar for other mas-men with his several portrayals over the years. After all, the Dragon was the man to beat and the others had to come real good. His innovations have found their way into other portrayals up to this day thereby contributing to the high quality of Vincy Mas.

Another aspect of Roy’s legacy that must not be taken for granted is his documentation of the history of this country. The dozens of portrayals done over the years reflect the various phases of our development. The point I am making is this, if we take each portrayal done by Roy over the years, we would be able to get a sense of the issues of the times. For instance, “From Granby to Halifax Street” brings to mind the several landmark buildings that were found in that segment of the capital and how the city has changed dramatically over the years. “Mas on the Moon” reminds us of the fascination with space travel at that time. Randy, I am pretty sure that you could come up with other examples. In his own way, the Dragon did a great deal to document the transformation of this small island state. It is therefore important that we preserve as much as we could of his rich body of work.

Honouring the Dragon

It goes without saying that we must find an appropriate way to honour the memory of the Dragon for all times. I would not object to even naming him as a national hero at some point in time. He has done much more than all the politicians we have posthumously lined up for hero status. The Dragon has done for culture and the arts what Mc Intosh and Joshua did for politics. I do not think that it is at all too presumptuous to consider Roy Ralph a National Hero. In any case, the Dragon must be appropriately honoured by the people oft his country.

Conclusion

I wish to extend sincerest condolences to the family of the late Roy Ralph the Dragon. With his passing, we have lost a great chunk of our cultural landscape. However, Roy’s life was rich and lively and it should be celebrated. I therefore call on all citizens to join us this morning in celebrating the life of the Dragon, Roy Ralph.

Sincerely,

Candy Edwards

June 21, 2008