Social media has been abuzz since news of the cancellation of the International Soca Monarch competition broke on Thursday.
While many feel it is long overdue, others believe it is unfair to the artists. Of course, there is also a group of individuals who believe that Machel Montano is at least partly to blame for the demise of Soca Monarch this year.
“Well could thank mr Machel. Always talking about the culture but that selfish bastard, he could have turned up another night. He really shouldn’t have taken over the Soca Monarch night,” one woman posted.
Several others were quick to jump to MM’s defence, saying he cannot be held responsible for the cancellation of Soca Monarch, when in fact the show has been on a “downward spiral for years”.
By Laura Dowrich-Phillips
“…please don’t blame Machel soca the monarch was never advertised last year until December but then the organizers were probably waiting to see how much money these really sick people get from the government so they weren’t talking or they weren’t doing their act. together they had time so people please don’t blame Machel I’m so tired of the organizers maybe the mother of all carnivals first prize would have been three million steups that they were traveling by bus for a long time,” one person posted.
Another seemed to echo the sentiment, commenting “Let’s deal with facts and not fake news, long before Machel took on Friday as the day for his solo show, the Soca Monarch started losing customers his, even after prestige promotions handed him over and viking and vi queen took over to promote and produce the show was a waste, i’m not asking i had a paid tk in hand and due to poor attendance they opened the gate and tk mine went unused, and Machel The show was last Monday, so let’s set the record straight if I’m wrong, let me know.”
Lawyer Kareem Marcelle also participated in the conversation.
For the last few Monarchs of Soca, a bunch of PCs were giving away or at best tickets were being scalped/sold for $50. The crowd was so thin Thema Williams could have given us an Olympic Performance without touching ah soul! How many of us were really showing up and supporting? The Soca Monarch literally died a natural death! The Treasury was literally giving life support to a promoter/private company!
My suggestion:
Promoters/Committees like Caesar’s Army/ Adrian Scoon/ Air Committee/ Scorch etc could perhaps come together for the sake of Culture to keep Soca Monarch or an equivalent as a successful, private and independent business venture from next year.
Here we have compiled some other reactions to the announcement shared by the public.
“Since Jesus was young, the international monarch of Soca extorted money from taxpayers – the pinnacle of cultural CEPEP, surpassed only by the abomination that is Dimanche Gras.” –paul
“I feel that if people here understood the level of bitterness that ISM was in the public purse, they wouldn’t be saying all the stupid things they’re saying. I hope a state-sponsored competition never comes back. Calypsonians shouldn’t not even rely on a state competition. Tents and yards. But let’s get back to the dog posts, eh.” – Roda
“Soca Monarch, when I get a chance see what all y’all come and do. Now I gotta cry and party, gotta cry and party all day, you know Soca Monarch…” Viking Ding Dong
The organizers of the competition were also charged with their dependence on the public purse.
“Too dependent on government. Time for Soca Monarch to become self sufficient…just bleeding national funds every year,” one woman posted.
“You want to have a show and you want the government to pay for it??? We need to stop this mentality!! Ridiculous to the max!” said another.
A surprising number of people expressed the opinion that not only Soca Monarch, but Carnival should be cancelled.
“I find out they might cancel the whole carnival,” one man posted.
In response, another commented: “I look forward to such a beautiful day with little hope… but I still hope. In time, the madness that comes with this season has been banished forever. Well, the senseless drinking of the street on Mondays and Tuesdays. and the dance that is supposed to be in the culture.”
“The very fact that Machel could have organized, entered the stadium, started selling tickets since December was a foregone conclusion that the ISM was not a match. Don’t blame anyone but yourself. The last ISMs were lack luster. anyway. These people had 3 years to do this together. After all these years, they still can’t figure it out. What a shame!” someone else posted.
