DIGICEL SUPPORTS THREE TIME CHILDREN CALYPSO WINNER, TENNICIA DE FREITAS, AS SHE AIMS FOR HER FIRST JUNIOR CALYPSO TITLE

January 29, 2009 – Georgetown, Guyana: As the excitement builds up for Mashramani 2009, Digicel has announced its sponsorship of three time children calypso winner, Tennicia De Freitas, in her first Junior Calypso performance.

Tennicia will take to the stage on Friday night in Mahaicony for the Junior Calypso finals with her satirical piece, “Texting”. “Texting” is sure to get the crowd roaring with laughter and nodding their heads in agreement as sings about an old man who enjoys an activity most popular amoung younger people - “texting.”

Digicel Head of Marketing, Donovan White, says “as a Caribbean company, Digicel appreciates Calypso since it is part of our rich cultural heritage. Calypso is part of our identity and we believe in preserving this heritage. Tennicia has done an outstanding job over the years and we made no hesitations in supporting her for this year’s competition.”

Seventeen year old Tennicia won the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Children Calypso competitions and she says that she is geared and ready to take home her first Junior Calypso title.

“I am very excited about participating, I believe my experience in recent competitions and my passion for calypso will certainly ensure a win. I am also elated that Digicel is supporting me in my quest for victory. Not many corporate companies support calypso since it is a dying form of music in Guyana but Digicel’s support is proof that there is some hope for the revival of calypso,” she says.

Over the past three years, Tennicia outshone her other competitors with songs like “Honesty”, “Tell me why”, and “Not Me” which were written and produced by Burchmore Simon of Kross Kolor Records. Simon also wrote “Texting.”