Rainorama museum for Kitch

Rainorama museum for Kitch
By Neidi Lee-Sing Rojas, Trinidad Guardian March 23, 2003

A large, gold record and a painting of Lord Kitchener are among the pieces on display at the Lord Kitchener Rainorama museum. They are just a couple of the many cultural artifacts that line the walls of a separate room at Kitchener's Rainorama in Diego Martin. It's a part of plans to create a public museum in honour of the late, great calypsonian. His common-law wife Valerie Greene said there was a small exhibit at the National Museum for a short period some years ago, but it had been removed. In 2001, there was a legal battle over the late Kitchener's Rainorama Palace in the Port-of-Spain High Court. The case, brought by sister of Kitchener's late wife Betsy Pollard, challenged Greene and her children, Kernal, Christian and Quewina's entitlement to the Palace.

Pollard had died of cancer about three years earlier. The children argued Greene was entitled to share an interest in the house, since they claimed she made direct and indirect contributions to the building and outfitting of the house. Now, with the help of her son Kernal, Greene has converted a separate room at the Rainorama home, dedicated to the life and times of Lord Kitchener. On stepping into the room, one is surrounded by the majestic presence of the legacy of this great calypsonian. Protected in glass-cased shelves are paintings of the singer, albums, platinum records, CDs, newspaper clippings about his achievements, old newspaper photographs and even a collection of editorial accounts of his funeral. A gold record was given to him for "Sugar Bum Bum."

Greene said: "Officials have already begun taking an inventory of the stock and when it is completed, then they will decide what is the next move. Right now they are documenting everything." She said his work and momentos are worth thousands of dollars, and they are worthy of being kept in a museum, not to be sold. She said there were still a number of his things to be included in the museum such as his characteristic suits, hats and ties. "We still have 50 of his suits, and more than 200 ties," said Greene. Greene and Roberts' son, Kernal, hope to include in the museum an audio visual section with films of his performances and even his funeral service. Asked about the latest developments in the legal battle, Kernal said the family had won the first round and they are confident things will eventually work out. And there is another surprise in store for Lord Kitchener's fans. Plans for this will be unveiled to the public when the family hosts a press conference on his birthday, April 18.