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2007 Chutney Soca Monarch Prize-Giving
Chutney Soca Monarch 2007, Rooplal Girdharie, accepts his prize-winnings,
presented by the Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs,
Mrs. Joan Yuille-Williams, (R) Mr. George Singh
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: April 25, 2007
Posted: April 30, 2007
The Chutney Soca Monarch Prize-Giving Ceremony was held at the Gulf City Mall Auditorium on Wednesday 25th April, 2007 to a small audience consisting of some of the Chutney Soca artistes and their supporters. The environment, which was small and comfortable, was filled with a small buzz of excitement as prize monies were finally to be received by the Chutney Soca Monarch participants.
Mr. Hemant Saith, Programme Director of 103FM and master of ceremonies for the brief awards ceremony, began by remarking that one of the most important aspects of Chutney Soca Monarch is rewarding the artistes for their hard work. He expressed that this year's competition was bigger and better as promised, in terms of having greater security, greater prizes and greater performances.
Mr. George Singh, CEO of Southex Promotions and organizer of the Chutney Soca Monarch competition provided welcoming remarks for the ceremony. He stated that he appreciated the efforts of those who came and thanked National Lotteries Classic, their title sponsor for many years as well as other sponsors including the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs. Singh intimated that Minister Joan Yuille-Williams is a woman of her word and was able to increase the prize-money as had been promised. The Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, according to Singh has an important role to play in the development of Chutney music. He promised that he would continue to produce this event to the best of his ability and that in 2008 they would increase the smaller prizes. The first prize would also receive added value, which would be donated by corporate sponsors totaling at least half a million dollars.
Mr. Singh also shared with the audience a brief history of Chutney Soca Monarch which is thirteen years in the running and costs more than two million dollars to produce. The Junior Chutney Soca Monarch, he informed the gathering will be held between September and October this year and the top three in that competition would get automatic placement in the main show.
Singh also used the opportunity to lobby for a cultural and expo centre in San Fernando. He said that they had identified sponsors but they still need to allocate land and asked for the government's assistance in this regard.
Chutney Soca Monarch also benefited from Panorama being held in San Fernando, according to Singh. However, despite Skinner Park being a satisfactory venue for Panorama it still needs improvement to its facilities, he said.
Mr. Singh ended his presentation on a suspenseful note saying only that for 2008, Southex had great ideas for the Chutney Soca Monarch finals.
The Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, the honorable, Mrs. Joan Yuille-Williams also indicated her pleasure to be at the venue, especially since it was in South Trinidad and congratulated Southex and the organizers for the work that they have done.
Yuille-Williams informed the audience that George Singh, organiser for the Chutney Soca Monarch competition, was also the organiser for Carifesta IX which was held last year. The Minister thanked him for these successful productions which she claimed were two of the best produced shows that she has witnessed for some time.
The Minister told the audience that the Ministry cannot produce all these shows but would continue to try their best to finance the promoters of these events. People like George Singh, according to Yuille-Williams are auxiliary members of the Ministry because they cannot do it all. She urged the corporate world to continue to sponsor such events.
She also informed the audience that Chutney artistes, dancers and musicians have also made a name for the country in the international arena as part of the Trinidad and Tobago contingent sent all over the world to expose our local culture. Yuille-Williams congratulated all who participated and who do their best to promote their culture.
The Minister also used the opportunity to challenge the myth that they did not promote or support the National Chutney Foundation saying that they have done so for years and stated categorically that monies were paid.
She lastly promised to speak to the Prime Minister about erecting a community centre in South Trinidad, which she said was a reasonable request.
Following the addresses, the prize monies were formally presented to the winners. They are as follows:
Place / Name / Prizes
1st / Rooplal Girdharie / $200,000
2nd / Samraj 'Rikki Jai' Jaimungal/ $100,000
3rd / Heeralal Rampartap / $60,000
4th / Carlene Wells /$40,000
5th / Nirmal Adesh Samaroo / $20,000
6th / Sarika Mahabir / $10,000
7th / Michael 'Soca Elvis' Salloum /$10,000
8th / Tricia Hamilton /$10,000
9th / Neehsan 'Hitman' Prabhu /$10,000
10th / Lal Bharat / $10,000
11th / Edward Ramdass / $10,000
12th / Phoomatee Ramjatan / $10,000
13th / Neeshad Sultan / $10,000
14th / Morel 'Luta' Peters / $10,000
15th / Ramdeen Maharaj / $10,000
The first place winner of the 2007 Chutney Soca Monarch competition, Rooplal Girdharie, gave a brief thank you speech at the close of the ceremony. He professed that he was honored to be a Trinidadian and that the love that he has for the country and people would never change. Chutney Soca tradition, according to the artiste, has become very popular and equal to Soca, Calypso and the other art forms that dominate the local sphere. He thanked Southex promotions, Mr. George Singh and other staff; judges; the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and in particular the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs and his fans. Girdharie professed that being an artiste can be a lonely profession and with it comes a lot of pressure and pain but said that artistes should continue to persevere and take the art form to a higher level. He ended by thanking his fellow competitors for putting up a good fight.
After the success of the 2007 Chutney Soca Monarch competition, many wait with bated breath for what would come for 2008.
2007 Chutney Soca Monarch Prize-Giving in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=70678
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