Ragga Soca Show 2011

Ragga Soca Monarch 2011 Shernelle ‘Skarpyon’ Williams has attributed his success at this year’s competition to hard work and dedication.

The prolific artiste who won his second crown for Vincy Mas 2011 on Friday night at the Victoria Park commented on Saturday Morning, “I feel good that my hard work, my very hard work has paid off”.

Having won the Best New Song Ragga Soca Competition at the launch of Carnival on Saturday May 7th with the same song, ‘She tell me’, Skarpyon also known as the ‘Stinger Man’ beat reigning Ragga Soca Monarch Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper and 13 other soca men on Friday night.

Skarpyon said that he is proud, “to be the first artiste in history to be in four finals in Carnival competitions and having already won two”.

Singing “Anywhere the rum dey’, a song never heard before competition night, Fireman did not place. In second place was Orandi ‘Bomani’ Charles with ‘I ain’t Missing’. Third was Lornette ‘Fire Empress’ Nedd with ‘Sak Pase’.

Godwin ‘Gao’ Oliver with ‘The Sheep’ sent the park into a frenzy performing in 15th position and although he did not place his performance is worth mentioning as it was evident he was the crowd favorite.

The other artistes that entertained patrons were, Cornelius ‘Poorsah’ Williams (The Juice), Raeon ‘Madzart’ Primus (Whole Wide World), Shertz ‘Problem Child’ James (Stick on), Daverne ‘Elegance’ Mockett (Touch D Road), Lyndon ‘Lawyer Boy’ George (PC Jumping), Danielle Veira (Be There), Daria Primus (Carnival Wuk Up), Dennis Bowman (In the middle of something), Charles ‘Colombian’ Villareal (Action Time) and Johnny ‘Johnny Rebel’ Hall (Dancing Queen).

Guest artistes at the show were three time soca monarch winner Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle and Jamaican soca and reggae artiste Busy Signal and his band High Voltage.

Meanwhile, tomorrow Sunday June 25th will see the staging of Junior Pan Fest which will feature a mini fair. Twelve pan sides will take part in this event. Nothing is scheduled for Monday but action continues on Tuesday June 28th with the Junior Calypso and Soca Monarch competitions. This year the CDC held school tours in an effort to create awareness among the school children. Coordinator of Shows Dennie said that the school tours were a hit as artistes like Bomani, Skarpyon and the Soca Dans visited and interacted with the students and the, “youngsters were happy to meet the artistes”.

Not a CDC event, Fire Fete will be held on Wednesday at the Victoria Park while on Thursday, June 30th, Panorama/Steel and Glitter will be held beginning from 8 pm. This year Steel and Glitter will feature the Senior Panorama Competition and the Mas Bands Section of the Year competitions. There will also be a Soca Dance off Competition. Miss Carival is slated for Friday July 1st where 10 contestants will vie for the crown. Saturday July 2nd is Soca Monarch where 17 artistes will come up against the reigning Skinny Fabulous. Dennie described the Soca Monarch show as the biggest show on the cultural calendar in SVG. He added that over 50 artistes have submitted entries.

Dimanche Gras is on Sunday July 3rd and will see 10 calypso singers come up against reigning monarch Bridget ‘Joy-C’ Creese. Appearing in the order which they are listed here are Elvis 'Abijah' Abbey, Javelle ‘Lady Diamond’ Frank, Shernelle 'Skarpyon' Williams, Aurella 'Queen B' Beache, Joy-C, Glenroy 'Sulle' Caesar, Kingsley 'Hero' Roberts, Michael 'Lord Have Mercy' Ollivierre, Elliot 'Mystery' Shallow, Carlos 'Rejector' Providence and Maxwell 'Tajo' Francis. Dimanche Gras will also feature the King and Queen of the Bands competitions. Persons looking for action before Dimanche Gras can journey to Private Mt. Wynne for the annual Slippery When Wet Beach Party.

J’ouvert begins at 4 a.m. on Monday July 4th and ends at 9 a.m. Said Dennie, “we know that J’ouvert has grown tremendously so bring a friend”. He encouraged persons to not wait until last minute to register their bands as is the practice but do it as soon as possible at the CDC’s offices in Victoria Park.

The Monday evening street party starts at 4 p.m. and ends at midnight. Some of the bands taking part this year are Lime, Mustique Company, Foreign Base 1 and 2, Building and Loan GHS, Fun Time Promotions and the CDC NLA Band.

On Tuesday July 5th, Mardi Gras will begin at the Victoria Park from 10 a.m. with steel band music. The bands, some 13 of them, will begin crossing the stage from 11 a.m.

During all the revelry, Dennie is asking persons to keep in mind that the no bottle policy is in effect while he stresses that persons should look for a food handler’s license when buying food from the vendors.

“Persons purchasing food are asked to support vendors who display their food handler’s badge”, said Dennie who added that these persons are trained in food handing in an effort to eliminate the risk of food contamination.

Dennie also stressed that icebox vendors and trolleys with drinks would not be allowed to intermingle with the revelers during the street aspect of Kiddies Carnival and Mardi Gras.

The 2011 Carnival celebrations end on Tuesday July 5th at 10 p.m.

25,06.2011 - Lyf Compton