--- title: HR 497. Peters, Winston "Gypsy"; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr497 cite_as: HR 497, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr497 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr497.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr497/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71152 date: 2025-03-04 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr496.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr498.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr497.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 497 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-04 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Segun Adeyina - Arlene Beckles - Bryce Berry - Eric Bell text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR497/2025 upstream_id: 1991464 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - calypso music - Trinidad and Tobago - cultural recognition --- # HR 497. Peters, Winston "Gypsy"; commend ## Text House Resolution 497 By: Representatives Adeyina of the 110th, Beckles of the 96th, Berry of the 56th, and Bell of the 75th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Winston "Gypsy" Peters; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, over the course of five decades, Winston "Gypsy" Peters, has charted many paths and has earned many titles and much recognition along the way; and WHEREAS, hailing from Mayaro, Trinidad, this son of the soil is recognized as one of Trinidad and Tobago's most prolific calypsonians and is a former Calypso Monarch; and WHEREAS, gaining considerable acclaim for his calypso contributions, Gypsy is an international performer, most famous for his timeless hit songs Sinking Ship, Little Black Boy, Rhythm of a People, I’m a Warrior; and WHEREAS, Gypsy has earned numerous accolades throughout his career including receiving the Chaconia Medal Silver in 1988 for his outstanding contribution to the development of Calypso music in Trinidad and Tobago; and WHEREAS, he is highly regarded as one of the world's best Extempo artists, having won the National Extempo Finals 14 times over the course of his career; and WHEREAS, his dedication and commitment to the people of Trinidad and Tobago extends far beyond entertainment arenas and cultural ambassadorship; Gypsy is a former Minister of Community Development, former Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, a former president of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organization, and a former vice-president of the Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago; and WHEREAS, currently, Gypsy proudly serves his nation as the Chairman of the National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, the organization that manages all Carnival activities under the Government's aegis; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this remarkable and distinguished musician and public servant be appropriately recognized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend the significant cultural and musical contributions of Winston "Gypsy" Peters and extend the most sincere best wishes for continued health and happiness. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Winston "Gypsy" Peters. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution formally commends Trinidadian calypso musician and public official Winston "Gypsy" Peters for his decades-long musical career and government service. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors Winston "Gypsy" Peters, a calypso musician from Trinidad and Tobago, for his contributions to music and public service. It recounts his career as a Calypso Monarch, his famous songs, and awards such as the Chaconia Medal Silver, along with his record of winning national Extempo competitions. The resolution also notes his government service, including past roles as a government minister and his current position as Chairman of Trinidad and Tobago's National Carnival Commission. The House resolves to recognize and commend his cultural and musical contributions and wish him continued health and happiness, and directs the Clerk of the House to provide him a copy of the resolution. It does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Winston "Gypsy" Peters for his musical career and public service in Trinidad and Tobago. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Peters. - Extends best wishes for his continued health and happiness on behalf of House members. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change since it is a commendatory resolution. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names only Winston "Gypsy" Peters, a musician and former government official from Trinidad and Tobago. It has no regulatory effect on Georgia residents, businesses, or agencies. ### Why it matters The resolution is a ceremonial gesture rather than a change to Georgia law or policy. Its practical effect is limited to the Georgia House of Representatives officially honoring an individual and providing him a printed copy of the recognition. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses detail Peters' career as a calypso artist, including his hit songs and his 1988 Chaconia Medal Silver award. - It notes his record of winning the National Extempo Finals 14 times and his past government roles, including Minister of Community Development and Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism. - The resolved clause commends his cultural and musical contributions and wishes him continued health and happiness. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Peters. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-04) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-04) - Sponsors: Segun Adeyina, Arlene Beckles, Bryce Berry, Eric Bell - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71152 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr497.md?full=1