Ronnie and Caro, led by Ronnie Mc Intosh, won the Band of the Year title, while soca star Machel Montano won the Road March title in downtown Port-of-Spain for Carnival 2014.It was the first set of major Carnival results to be disclosed publicly yesterday.Hours later, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (Tuco), in a release, also said Montano had won the national Road March title with his hit Ministry of the Road.
Contacted for comment on his band's victory yesterday, Mc Intosh said it was a great win for his masqueraders. He said the win, his first in the large band category, also showed that "hard work pays off."
McIntosh said the victory was also for the people who enjoyed themselves in the various sections of the band, adding he was particularly impressed with the discipline his members showed in staying in their respective sections while crossing the main judging points. He also thanked his loyal masqueraders who have stayed with the band and the new ones who joined this year.
Mc Intosh, who was also a leading soca artiste over the past years with hits such as "Ent" and "How It Go Look," said he had also made the complete transition and it was now "all about serving people." He, however, admitted that he was still concerned about the Carnival planning process, adding preparations cannot be made a few weeks before the festival."We have to talk Carnival from one month after it ends," Mc Intosh insisted.
Port-of-Spain mayor Raymond Tim Kee and former mayor Murchison Brown were present for yesterday's announcement, which was made by Port-of-Spain City Corporation Carnival Committee chairman Wendell Stephen at the mayor's office.Trini Revellers, led by David Cameron, placed second with its presentation of the Sultan Palace.Mike Antoine's band Legacy, which portrayed Nature's Touch, placed third in the large band category and fourth was Paparazzi's Center Stage.