“Why now?” That’s the question being raised by Calixte Xavier, also known as Kakal, an entertainer and Sergeant in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), following his sudden transfer from Castries to Vieux Fort—just one day after performing at a United Workers Party (UWP) event.
St Lucia Times has confirmed that Xavier received a transfer letter, signed by Acting Commissioner of Police Verne Garde, which informed him of the transfer, which takes effect on Monday, March 10, 2025. The letter was dispatched on the heels of Kakal’s performance at the UWP event in Dennery on March 2.
The timing has left the singer questioning the motives behind his transfer.
Speaking to St Lucia Times, Kakal declined to comment in his capacity as a police officer but said he felt compelled to speak as an entertainer.
“On Sunday, March 2, I performed at a UWP event, after having been invited to do so. This was a paid engagement, and I was not there to endorse any candidate or politician,” he said. “You cannot tell an artist where to sing and what to sing, once no laws are being broken.”
The songs performed on Sunday were Jackass and Screw Driver, , both of which he competed with in last year’s national calypso competition.
Kakal pointed out that he was a calypsonian long before joining the RSLPF.
In 1995, he started singing as King Kakal at the Vieux Fort Comprehensive School, where he won the school competition that year. In 2002, he participated in the RSLPF calypso competition and won the crown. The following year, he made his national debut with Are You for Cops? and Too Long to Come, the latter earning him the Soca Monarch title in 2003. He won the title again in 2007 with Blah, Blah, Blah. Over the years, Kakal has performed regionally and internationally.
He told St Lucia Times that what is puzzling about the recent developments is that he has performed on platforms for “both sides” and at numerous national events.
“I have never sang anything potentially libelous or to defame anyone. I believe that I am free to perform on whatever stage I choose,” he insisted.
He also pointed out that in a small country like Saint Lucia, public servants—including police officers—inevitably provide services at events hosted by different political parties.
During a Saint Lucia Labour Party political meeting in Anse La Raye on Sunday, MP for Micoud North and Minister for Crime Prevention Jeremiah Nobert denied allegations by the opposition United Workers Party that he was involved in Kakal’s transfer.
“I, Honourable Jeremiah Norbert, have never and will never call the commissioner to give any directive. The commissioner is his own man,” he insisted.
This stinks like rotten fish. He wears a police uniform so he is a cop before an entertainer. If the lyrics to his songs were non-political, why should it matter? If he didn’t endorse any politician, why should anyone hyperventilate? The other important factor, does his entertainment work negatively affect his real work as a cop?
It’s time the commissioner come up with a good explanation. Presently, the optics are real, real bad. These are serious allegations.
We have heard from the Entertainer and the Minister. Mr. Commissioner what say you?
Terrible optics. No other way to put it. No mater what the real reason is.
This is St Lucia for you. There is nothing new about what happened there. Both political parties in St Lucia have that in their DNA especially SLP. Victimization is rampant while in power and they cry foul when in opposition and accuse the other side of what they are famous for.