It is a bumper weekend for calypso and chutney soca as two critical competitions are being staged tomorrow. From noon, 40 calyponians will face the judges for places in the 2012 National Calypso Monarch final on Dimanche Gras when the semifinal of the competition is staged by Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (Tuco) at Skinner Park, San Fernando. A few hours later, Southex stages the 2012 Lotto Plus Chutney Soca Monarch Final-ONE -at the Queen's Park Oval, Port-of-Spain. Sixteen artistes, including three from Guyana, will challenge defending monarch Rikki Jai for the title and lucrative first prize. The three Guyanese finalists are world renowned artiste Terry Gajraj, Fiona Singh and Haresh Singh. The one sure thing about tomorrow's final is that it will be the most fiercely contested contest of its kind anywhere in the universe.
With this year's contest accommodating a wider international text voting platform the competition is wide open and, with the eventual winner being decided solely on the basis of texting, it will all boil down to "who have more corn, feeding more duck." Gajraj is believed to have an extensive international fan base, while not to be left out are contestants like KI Persad, New York's Ragga & Sassy Ramoutar, Adesh Samaroo, Heeralal Rampartap, Rick Ramoutar and reigning monarch Rikki Jai. Young calypsonian Duanne O'Connor is on a winning streak and is poised to seriously challenge defending National Calypso Monarch Karene Asche for the 2012 title.
Having already recently copped the North Calypso Monarch title, O'Connor won last Monday's night Young Kings Monarch title when the final was held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), and is among the 40 semifinalists competing in tomorrow's Kaiso Fiesta-National Calypso Monarch Semifinal, scheduled for Skinner Park, San Fernando. Also having eyes set on Karene's title are six former national monarchs, including Chalkdust (Dr Hollis Liverpool); Kurt Allen; Sugar Aloes (Michael Osouna); Luta (Morel Peters); Singing Sandra (Sandra Des Vignes-Millington); and, (Cro Cro) Weston Rawlins.
National
Calypso Monarch Semifinal
1 Alana Sinnette
2 All Rounder (Anthony Hendrickson)
3 Brian London
4 Devon Seale
5 Stinger (Dexter Parsons)
6 Duanne O'Connor
7 Crazy (Edwin Ayoung)
8 Bally (Errol Ballantyne)
9 GG (Giselle Fraser-Washington)
10 Heather Mc Intosh
11 Calypso Prince (Henson Wright)
12 Chalkdust (Dr Hollis Liverpool)
13 Jermeeka Mundy
14 Tigress (Joanne Rowley)
15 Karen Eccles
16 Tiny (Kerine Williams)
17 Kirt Ross
18 Kizzy Ruiz
19 Kurt Allen
20 Leslie Ann Ellis
21 Fya Empress (Lornette Nedd)
22 Maria Bhola La Caille
23 Contender (Mark John)
24 Lady Adanna (Marsha Charles)
25 Protector (Michael Legerton)
26 Sugar Aloes (Michael Osouna)
27 Michelle Henry
28 Luta (Morel Peters)
29 Bunny B (Neville Brown)
30 Nicole Thomas
31 Revealer (Patrick Lewis)
32 Renee Alfred
33 Singing Sandra (Sandra Des Vignes Millington)
34 Mr Shak (Selvon Noel)
35 Shamika Denoon
36 Sheldon Nugget (Sheldon Bullen)
37 Stephen Marcelle
38 Queen Victoria (Victoria Cooper)
39 Cro Cro (Weston Rawlins)
40 De Fosto (Winston Scarborough)
The reserves are Kwesi Jeffers and Black Sage (Phillip Murray)