The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIFFC) has determined, that following an investigation of songs used during the 2025 Calypso Competition, four breeches of the rules were found and must result in disqualifications and the reassignment of placements, prizes and titles.

On various days, the six competitors for the 2025 Calypso Monarch Competition, Jaynene Jno Lewis; stage name: Miss Understood, Z. Eklund Adams; stage name: Officer, Lester Fontelio; stage name: Le Le, Reynold Phillips; stage name: King Paido, Joycelyn Searles Duncan; stage name: Sistah Joyce and Marcus Mark; stage name: Young Blood, signed the 2025 Calypso Competition Registration Form making each competitor responsible for their awareness and compliance of the rules presented for the 2025 Competition.

The front page of the form outlines three (3) rules or guidelines for the 2025 competitors. 

1. The competition is open to all BVI Landers, Be-longers, and any other person who legally resides and works in the BVI for 10 years or more.
2. A passport size photo is required and must be submitted with this application.
3. The Calypso must be your own composition and should not have been presented in any form prior to the competition.

Additionally, six (6) rules or guidelines for the 2025 competitors appear on the second page of the 2025 Calypso Competition Registration Form. 

1. The Calypso should have at least three (3) or not more than four (4) verses and chorus.
2. The Calypso along with the lyrics must be presented to the Calypso Sub-committee.
3. Recordings of the song can be sent by compact disc or MP3 format (by email).
4. The winner of the competition will be required to perform free of cost at any event sponsored or hosted by the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission.
5. The winner of the competition is not authorized to represent the BVI at any other competition without prior written consent from the Chairman of the V.I. Festivals and Fairs.
6. All participants must adhere to all the rules as set out by the Calypso Sub-committee in the schedule of rules.

The Committee did not introduce new rules nor enforce any legacy rules previously associated with the Competition.

Further review of these rules and guidelines, and in the spirit of fairness and accountability to all competitors and to the Virgin Islands public, has led The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee to take the difficult decision to disqualify three competitors in part or in full from in the 2025 Calypso Competition. Competitor, Z. Eklund Adams who performs under the stage name, Officer, will be disqualified for use of the song Victims Crying Out, he will be additionally be disqualified for use of the song Set Good Examples, competitor Joycelyn Searles Duncan who performs under the stage name, Sistah Joyce will be disqualified for use of the song Ms. P and Lester Fontelio; stage name: Le Le will be disqualified for use of the song Hall of Shame. The three competitors are considered to have breached rule number three which states that “The Calypso must be your own composition and should not have been presented in any form prior to the competition.” 

The Committee has found that all competitors entered the competition using titles and/or songs which were previously used in previous competitions in or outside of The Virgin Islands or were presented in a performance capacity not associated with the 2025 Calypso Competition.

The Committee further determined that the songs are the own composition of the competitors and while words were change to suit the competitions, the Committee has determined that entering a song into a previous competition or performing a song for another purpose other than the 2025 Calypso Competition and repackaging it for the purpose of the 2025 Calypso Competition, despite the introduction of new words, still constitutes a breach of the said rule. 

In light of our findings and determinations, The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee announces the new placements, prizes and titles:

1. 2025 Calypso Monarch winner: Marcus Mark; stage name: Young Blood.
2. 2025 Calypso Monarch First Runner-Up: Reynold Phillips; stage name: King Paido.
3. 2025 Calypso Monarch Second Runner-Up: Jaynene Jno Lewis; stage name: Miss Understood.
4. Marcus Mark; stage name: Young Blood will receive $6,000, a trophy, a sash and a crown.
5. Reynold Phillips; stage name: King Paido will receive $3,000, a trophy and a sash.
6. Jaynene Jno Lewis; stage name: Miss Understood will receive $2,000, a trophy and a sash.
7. The award for Best Lyrics will be re-awarded to Marcus Mark; stage name: Young Blood. He will also receive a trophy, a sash and a $100 cash prize.

The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee said it does not believe that competitor Z. Eklund Adams, Joycelyn Searles Duncan and Lester Fontelio sought to deceive the VIFFC nor Calypso Sub-committee, but interpreted the rules incorrectly resulting in the breach. 

They further stated that the offences committed in 2025 shall not affect the participation of the competitors in the upcoming year, 2026.

The VIFFC thanked Jocelyn Searles Duncan for bringing the possibility of a discrepancy to their attention on Monday 28th July, prompting the investigation. 

It was competitor Joycelyn Searles Duncan - Sistah Joyce who took to the airwaves through Tola Radio on Monday 28th July to air her grievances with the show, prompting a series of public debate, and forcing the Committee to investigate the matter. 

We’re told by well placed sources that upon the announcement of the changes which were relayed to the participants of the Calypso Competition during a meeting held at the Premier’s Conference Room, Sistah Joyce allegedly proceeded to throw a chair at one of the members of the committee. We understand that a Police report has now been made against her by the committee member. 

Guavaberry Media can also report from video evidence provided, that Sistah Joyce appeared to have gone into a ‘shaking fit’ after the new results were relayed to the participants. Other videos show her using derogatory words at the wrap up of the meeting, while others attempted to console her, and others plead with her. 

The Calypso Competition was held on Saturday July 26th 2025 at the Charlie Neil Frett Festiville.