When KEITH ROWLEY became PRIME MINISTER of TRINIDAD and TOBAGO, one of the first things he did was to CUT THE SOCA CHUTNEY BUDGET by 90 percent in a pure act of RACISM. I was depressed that THE PRIME MINISTER of ALL THE PEOPLE in TRINIDAD and TOBAGO could pull such a RACIST ACT on a MULTICULTURAL COUNTRY.
Despite that, CHUTNEY SOCA has continued to thrive and grow and expand its base with INDIAN COMPANIES in TRINIDAD funding its growth. And as a lover of this genre, I have championed its growth with numerous postings on THIS FORUM.
Today, after all the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS that have been PUMPED into the SOCA MONARCH giveaway to THE PNM CONSTITUENTS (under the guise of talent) -- the event has gone bankrupt and has been cancelled due to a shortage of PNM FUNDING.
Meanwhile, 2023, is going to be THE BIGGEST CHUTNEY SOCA EVENT IN HISTORY. This story is a metaphor for PNM CULTURAL BIAS amid INCOMPETENCE. As is demonstrated in ALL facets of their governance since 1956.
I have a lot of hope for CHUTNEY SOCA even though their content to date is TRITE and VILLAGE. On the other hand -- as a SOCA LOVER -- I am ashamed to see how the music has been derailed by the JAMAICANZATION of our BEST LOCAL MUSICAL PRODUCT -- SOCA.
TRINIDAD is caught up in a web of RACIAL POLITICS that is KILLING THE NATION. The SOCA MONARCH COMPETITION has become a victim of GIMME GIMME PNM POLITICS ... while CHUTNEY SOCA is flying on the outer edges of GLOBAL RECOGNITION with commercial support.
That is a SHAME.
Guardian January 26, 2023
"There will be no International Soca Monarch competition this year, as its promoters have decided to cancel it after Government refused their request for funding to the tune of $10 million.
It represents the first time in 30 years that the Soca Monarch competition has been voluntarily cancelled.
Caribbean Prestige Foundation director Geoffrey Wharton-Lake confirmed the decision in a telephone interview with Guardian Media last night, saying it was based solely on their financial inability to host it."
https://guardian.co.tt/news/soca-monarch-competition-cancelled-6.2.1619262.43778d038e
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