Reigning Digicel International Groovy Soca Monarch Kerwin Du Bois will not be defending his title on Fantastic Friday.
Du Bois said yesterday he would not be a part of this year’s competition, making him the first of the artistes to use new rule change announced by organisers Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts (CPF) to his benefit.
Speaking through his publicist Adanna Asson yesterday, Du Bois said he did not want to defend his title. He said he only entered the competition last year because his fans had requested that he do so.
This year, however, Du Bois, who dethroned Machel Montano last year with his runaway hit Too Real, said he wanted to explore other avenues this year.
“He wants to do something different and so he will be having an event at the Normandy on February 1 in order to give back to his fans,” Asson said.
It has not been confirmed whether Montano will defend his power soca title at the event on Fantastic Friday but sources close to the entertainer told the T&T Guardian yesterday that it is very unlikely at this point.
Montano did not confirm or deny whether he would compete at the event or not, when contacted by the T&T Guardian. He directed all questions to his manager Che Kothari but efforts to contact him were unsuccessful yesterday.
Earlier this week, organisers CPF announced that incumbent monarchs would not have to automatically defend their crowns in this year’s competition. Previously, a title defence was mandatory and artistes refusing to do so had to return 90 per cent of their winnings.
Contacted yesterday, CPF spokeswoman Jeniece Schoon said the decision to revise the rule was taken in order to support the younger artistes in the competition.
As to Du Bois’ and Montano’s participation, she said she was unaware of any decisions made by the artistes.
“I can’t comment on that because that is not something I know of,” Schoon said.
Soca artistes were mostly supportive of the rule change, which allows Du Bois and Montano the choice to defend their titles or not without fear of financial repercussions.
In a brief interview yesterday, groovy soca artiste Darryl Henry (Farmer Nappy) said the change was long overdue.
He added: “That rule should have stopped long time because at the end of the day if you win a competition and you say, I don’t want to go back to competition no more and you want to hold a record, you should be able to retire.
“One of the things in the rule is that if you are not coming back you have to pay back about 95 per cent of the money but that rule supposed to change long time.”
Henry felt, however, another aspect of the competition needed to change—the prize money for the Groovy competition—which is usually less than the prize for the power category.
He said CPF should consider raising the prize as groovy soca songs had longevity after the Carnival season.
Soca songstress Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez, who brought the rules into focus when she and husband, Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez, chose to stay away from the event in 2013, said it was interesting.
“I honestly don’t know what to say. When I was against it, a number of people were against me,” Lyons-Alvarez said.
But she said the rule change could not influence a decision from her to re-enter the competition. “I am done with it,” she added.
Yesterday, competitors in the semi-finals of the Digicel International Groovy Soca Competition and the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) Power Soca Competition drew for positions at the Digicel Imax Theatre, Woodbrook.
Soca music fans flocking to the Queen’s Park Savannah Greens next Sunday will be forced to come early and leave late if they want to see some of the most popular artistes, as some of the top acts pulled late numbers for a total of 84 performances, with a few performing in both categories.
POSITIONS
Performance positions for Soca Monarch semi-finals on January 25:
Digicel Power Soca Monarch
1. Destra Garcia
2. Ozzie Reid (Leadpipe) and Reshawn Ince (Saddis)
3. Nicholas Joel Sealy (Fadda Fox)
4. Delroy (Fireman) Hooper
5. Shal Marshall
6. Irvin Blackman (Blackie)
7. Edwin Ayoung (Crazy)
8. Shivonne Churche (Lil Bitts)
9. Kerlene (Kerlz) Joseph
10. Kevin James (Young Voice)
11. Umi Marcano and John Alibocus (Makamillion)
12. Akeem (Preedy) Chance
13. Devon Martin (Lyrikal)
14. Keron Boodoosingh (Tim Tim)
15. Denise (Saucy) Belfon
16. Sasha Ann Moses
17. Jahmoun Mendoza
18. Orlando Octave
19. Benjamin Le Blanc (Benjai)
20. Kenrick (Shaolin) George
21. Olatunji Yearwood.
22. Ravi B
23. Darnella Simmons
24. Nadia Batson
25. Iwer George
26. Joel Feveck (Zan)
27. Kernel Roberts (Kitch)
28. Shurwayne Winchester
29. Erphaan Alves
30. Gamal Doyle (Skinny Fabulous)
31. Dev
32. Darryl Henry (Farmer Nappy)
33. Dexter Stewart (Blaxx)
34. Wilt Cambridge (Talpree)
35. Joanna Hutton (Jo Jo)
36. Faith Antoine
37. Carlton Cordle (Biggie Irie)
38. Nesta Boxhill (Sekon Sta)
39. Menace
40. Jenelle de Leon (J Angel)
41. Patrice Roberts
42. Roderick Gordon (Chucky)
43. Roger joseph (Patch)
44. Oscar B
45. Akil Borneo (5 Star Akil)
46. Simon Delph (Syo)
47. Ricardo Drue
NLCB Power Soca Monarch positions:
1. Ken Marlon Charles (KMC)
2.Shal Marshall and Squeeze Head
3. Akeem (Preedy) Chance
4. Patrice Roberts
5. Rossi Khempis (RKG)
6. Iwer George
7. Denise (Saucy) Belfon
8. Delroy (Fireman) Hooper
9. Erphaan Alves
10. Hollis Mapp (Mr Killa)
11. Andrew Hitz Phillip
12. Jenelle de Leon (J Angel)
13. Shurwayne Winchester
14. Gamal Doyle (Skinny Fabulous)
15. Kris (KI) Persad.
16. Heaven Charles (Snakey)
17. Iwer George
18. Ann G
19. Destra Garcia
20. Pelf
21. Kernel Roberts (Kitch)
22. Dexter Stewart (Blaxx)
23. Terron Callender (Jaiga)
24. Devon Samuel (Prophet Benjamin)
25. Jelani
26. Swappi and Dueceman
27. Skinny Banton
28. Ricardo Drue
29. Fya Empress
30. Nikki Crosby (Granny)
31. Luney Sparks and Electrify
32. Eddie Charles
33. Squeezy Rankin
34. Austin Lyons (Super Blue)
35. CJ
36. Devon Matthews
37. Nadia Batson