TRINIDAD EXPRESS - By Wayne Bowman - Producer of the Chutney Soca Monarch competition, George Singh, says he hopes the Government will keep its promise to, "ensure there is equality in the prize structure of all national Carnival competitions next year".
He made the comment during the prize-giving function for the 2010 Chutney Soca Monarch competition at the Kapok Hotel in Maraval on Wednesday night.
Singh is the first promoter of a national Carnival competition to call on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to keep her promise that winners of competitions, such as the Chutney Soca Monarch, International Soca Monarch, Panorama and National Calypso Monarch, will each receive two million dollars sponsored by the Government.
Persad-Bissessar made the promise during the final rally of the People's Partnership at the Aranjuez Savannah on May 23.
"Today, I pledge to you as well that all the competitions which showcase the talent of our land, whether it be the Chutney Monarch, the Soca Monarch, the Panorama finals, in all these competitions...I pledge to you today that in true equality and justice, that the first prize for all these competitions will be $2 million for everyone of those completions and that is how we will rise together, every creed and race, we will rise," Persad-Bissessar said then.
Contacted to elaborate on the statement he mad during the function yesterday, Singh said he was not as excited over the $2m promised as he is over there finally being equality across the board in the prize structure of the various competitions. The first prize of the Chutney Soca Monarch this year was $200,000, while the winners of the International Power Soca Monarch received more than $600,000 and a Toyota pickup, while the National Panorama champions took away $1m.
"The figure the Prime Minister promised is not as important as having equality in the prize structure. At last we may see the Chutney Soca Monarch receiving as impressive a prize as the winners of other national competitions in Carnival. I am pleased to know this is the plan and I am happy to see it finally being done. I am hoping the Government will keep its promise even if it may have to revisit the amount," Singh said.
During the prize-giving function on Wednesday, Ravi B received his $200,000 first prize cheque, saying he was coming with, "a two million dollar performance", for the 2011 final, which is scheduled to take place at Skinner Park, San Fernando on February 19.
Other finalists on hand to collect their winnings were Moses Charles, who placed third and K.I., who finished fourth. Rikki Jai, who placed second, was absent, but all the artistes who placed between fifth and twelfth, including Hunter, Hitman, Soca Elvis, Kenneth Salick, Omadath Maharaj and Andy Singh, were present.
