On Thursday night, Saint Lucia’s Cultural Centre played host to the annual Intercommercial House Calypso Competition, a celebration of lyrical creativity that drew widespread backing from the island’s business community and general public alike.
The event brought together performing representatives from a diverse cross-section of Saint Lucian organizations, each bringing their own distinct stylistic flair and unique thematic messages to the main stage. The packed venue buzzed with energy, as colleagues, friends and family of the competitors filled the stands to cheer on their favorites, cultivating a warm, lively atmosphere that carried through every performance.
When the final scores were tallied, Shaqelle Charlery — performing under the stage name Kaiso Cop and representing the Bordelaise Correctional Facility — claimed the top spot of the night. His moving original work *Bordelaise Sad Stories* resonated deeply with both the panel of judges and the packed audience, blending sharp lyrical storytelling with authentic emotional delivery to secure his first-place win.
Claiming the runner-up position was Erny Johnny, better known by his stage name Erny J, who represented the Saint Lucia Workers Credit Union. His performance of *One Last Time* earned widespread acclaim for its powerful, well-crafted lyrics and confident stage presence, cementing his status as one of the most memorable acts of the competition. Notably, this is not Erny J’s first time on the competition’s podium: he took home the first-place title at the 2025 event, while third-place finisher Eka Fergus also repeated her 2025 podium placing in 2026.
Performing under the shortened stage name Eka, Fergus represented the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund and took home third place for her heartfelt track *Matters of the Heart*. The song showcased her strong vocal control and raw emotional range, earning her a warm reception from the crowd.
Every competitor who took the stage elevated their performances with extra creative touches, from elaborate custom costumes and theatrical acting to immersive visual effects. Their narrative-driven songs covered a wide array of themes, keeping the audience fully engaged from the opening act to the final award announcement. The 2025 competition saw a different podium order: Chocolate, representing the Inland Revenue Department, claimed third place that year, alongside returning podium favorites Erny J in first and Eka in second.