Digicel texters unhappy over Chutney Soca snub Wednesday, February 23 2011
TRINIDAD EXPRESS - Customers of mobile provider Digicel complained yesterday they were not allowed to vote by text message for the performer of their choice during Saturday night's Chutney Soca Monarch competition at Skinner Park, San Fernando.
Digicel communications manager Penny Gomez said a number of Digicel customers complained to the company that they were unable to send text messages to vote in the competition.
She confirmed to the Express yesterday that Digicel customers could not vote using their mobile handsets.
The competition was sponsored by State company TSTT's bmobile service which provides cellular services to customers across the country.
Gomez said that competitions like the Chutney Soca Monarch had cultural significance and were of national interest and Digicel customers "felt disenfranchised and were very upset because they were not able to vote".
Several customers registered complaints on Digicel's Facebook page about not being able to vote, the Express observed.
Asked about Digicel's recent Rising Stars contest, which allowed only Digicel customers to vote for the winner, Gomez said the company has written to the authorities saying it would have no problem if the competition was open to mobile customers of both TSTT and Digicel.
Digicel will continue to sponsor dethroned Chutney Soca Monarch Ravi Bissambhar (Ravi B) who called on fans to throw objects on stage if they were unhappy with the results Saturday night.
Samraj "Rikki Jai" Jaimungal won the $2 million first prize.
Bissambhar has apologised twice for his statements.
Gomez said he will perform today during Digicel's Digifit Carnival Burn workout session at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, along with other Digicel-sponsored artistes Destra Garcia and Kees Dieffenthaller.
