Felicia reaches out to youths

As Public Relations Officer of X-TAC Promotions, the charming Felicia Layne, known in the calypso arena as Sister C, spends most of her time reaching out to youths of the Morvant/Laventille area. She travels to various communities and talks to the youths about coming together and showcasing their talent as performing artistes. On this venture Felicia stumbled upon great talent that is hiding behind the reported “crime villages.” Having come in contact with many of the youths who are willing to take their art on stage, she took one step further to establish the group called X-TAC and to work along with a few of her friends championing the cause of talented youths of these areas.

Having done three months work, she got the nod from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to organise a show for the youths she discovered. As a result she has organised a show entitled, ‘Unexposed Artistes In Concert’ at Paradise Heights, Basketball Court, Morvant, today, from 2 pm to 8 pm. The main attractions of this event are the performances of Calypso Jomo, Gladiator, DWD, Rebellious, Lady Wendy, Baby Pink and Crew, Zion, Soldier Ants and herself as Sister C. Music will be supplied by Papa D and admission is free. Felicia is happy that local producer, Peter Persaud from AVM Channel 4, has agreed to tape the programme for a later telecast. “This project has been designed to facilitate the youths and interested persons in the reconstruction of communities in these areas. I have been doing the necessary ground work for this project and I expect that the people of the surrounding areas will participate and help the youths to find themselves,” she said on a serious note.

Felicia has spent 10 years in the calypso arena and has recorded her own compositions such as, “Aids Up Ah Nani,” “It’s A Pity,” “Honey Stick,” “The Town Man,” “Rudder Correction” and “Tickers.” Her latest tune “Tickers” is now gaining a lot of airplay on local frequencies. She told People that in recent months, many people have been complaining about the increase in crime in the Morvant/Laventille areas, but no one is willing to spend quality time reaching out to the younger ones who will be the adults of tomorrow. “Sometimes when I hear the politicians talking I get outraged at their comments. They talk as if they really care for the people and they are doing so much.  Yet there is no change. These people wear fancy suits and drive around in their fancy cars just scoping out the area. They do not care whether a young child is being exposed to drugs or crime for the first time.

“They do not care whether the mothers are sitting home fearing that their children may never return home,” she spoke with a high level of concern. She added that change can come if those in those in authority are willing to have outreach programmes in the centre of these areas, where youths have direct contact with the people in charge. Felicia was born in Belmont, but moved to Fabeau Village, where she grew up. She attended the Barataria Junior and Senior Secondary Schools. After graduating from school she worked as a private nurse for many in the Belmont area. She also attended to Lord Pretender, before he passed away last year. Because of her talent for caring for the sick, she was encouraged by friends to pursue courses in Geriatric Care, Psychology and Physiotherapy at the Institute of Health, at Mount Hope Medical Institute. Today, she is contracted by many people to do private nursing jobs. “By doing this job part-time I have more time to do the things I want to do. I am able to concentrate on social projects and get results quickly,” she said.                              

In the future, Felicia would like to establish a halfway house for teenagers. “I would like to establish this institution so that the various religious heads and other knowledgeable people can come in to counsel those who are in need,” she said. She would like to establish projects that will attract the youths. “I believe we must convince the youths who have gone astray that we have something tangible for them. It must not just be from a religious, but also sporting and recreational angles, or even where they would be attracted to a prize for a performing talent,” she explained. Felicia did not want people to think that she wants to re-invent the wheel by talking about talent shows when there is Scouting for Talent and other shows. “These shows accommodate the people who are very much into the arts. But we have to find a forum that will encourage the youths in the performing arts,” she said. Felicia has been trying to get sponsorship from the business community for her ideas and has met with great difficulty. But she is determined to succeed. Looking at her progress in this field she is heading on the right road.