TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD - After much speculation on the release of prize structure for 2011 Chutney Soca Monarch Southex CEO George Singh sent the related releases to the media yeaterday. It caused an uproar among chutney artistes. In the release it says the first prize of $2 million will be donated by the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism.
The prize structure is as follows 1st $2,000,000; 2nd $100,000; 3rd 60,000 and 4th-15th $30,000 each. The huge difference between the first and second place raised a lot questions among finalists.
Spokesperson for the newly formed Trinidad and Tobago Chutney Artistes Associatio (TTCAA), Fabien Alfonzo said the prize structure that was revealed is a clear indication that artistes are at the mercy of the promoters.
Last year’s winner Ravi Bissembhar (Ravi-B) walked away with $200,000 while second place winner Rikki Jai received $100,000. The third place winner Moses Charles received $60,000.
Apart from the first prize all other prizes will be funded through other sources and willl be paid by Southex on a date to be announced. Singh said this event will be one of the largest and most expensive productions for Carnival 2011.
Five-time monarch, Jai says the chutney artistes are powerless when it comes to prize money for the Chutney Soca Monarch grand finals. He was responding to questions posed to him by the media after Southex released the prize structure for the 2011 competition. “Two million dollars is definitely a great first prize but for those who miss the top spot, they are made to settle for little,” Jai said, adding that it takes the excitement out of the competition.
He emphasised on the point that artistes are powerless saying that those who promote this event should take another look at the efforts made by chutney artistes to deliver on the grand final stage. Drupatie Ramgoonai who has been in the chutney arena for three decades and is a contestant this year said that her main aim is to bring Chutney Soca at its best for the people. “Let the country observe what is taking place and let them decide what exactly is fair or unfair to artistes,” she said.The reigning chutney soca monarch, Ravi-B said he wants to take chutney soca to Madison Square Gardens. I want to go as far as possible with the music,” he said. He told Newsday he is spending a total of $400,000 for his presentation on Saturday night.
Nishan “Hitman” Prabhoo who has been on the chutney big stage on five occasions said the artistes in this competition are at a loss since they put out for the preliminary, semi-final and grand final.
“We are not given compensation for any of the shows leading up to the monarch,” he said. Adding that while it was a great move by the Government to give $2 million as the first prize, Government should consider all the artistes and give that sum as the three top prizes in the competition. He would like the first prize to be $1 million, the second prize to be $800,000 and and the third spot to be $500,000.
Southex took the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for putting Chutney Soca Monarch on the same level of all the other Carnival competitions.
Singh could not be reached for comment on the source that will be giving the second, third and fourth place.
