The Monk rules

Machel Montano did it “Like ah Boss” when he copped the Lotto Plus International Power Monarch for the fourth consecutive time. This victory brought the curtains down on Montano’s successful competitive career. Montano had announced his retirement from competition only a few weeks ago. After three hours of waiting, the mostly unresponsive crowd came alive when Monk Monte (Montano) came on stage. 

While monks are associated with calm and serenity, the reigning soca monarch defending champion was anything but, and the crowd responded in kind. Dressed in gold and red and emerging from a race car Montano captivated the audience from start to finish. 

The crowd transformed from people to trumpets mimicking on command the brass sounds of his hit “Like Ah Boss”. Montano who was poked fun at by Neil “Iwer” George focused all his attention on singing rather than taking jabs at his opponents. At the end of the night Montano showed he did it like a boss and collected the $2 million cheque to prove it.

Compared to Montano, first runner-up George’s presentation was tame. George, who did not have the crowd response he was accustomed to, left the stage atop a truck flanked by masquerading women. During his performance he had a masquerader and a queen with him while he himself was outfitted in a carnival costume. Gold and black to be exact. 

Nearing the end of his performance he told the crowd Montano had been winning ever since the Government came to power in 2010 and if the self-professed King George didn’t win this year, next year under the PNM he would surely take first prize. By the beginning of the next Carnival, elections would have gone and George will either have prophesied or lied. In the meantime, he had to play mas with his second prize.

One of the favourites this year, making her debut in the competition and placing third was local comedienne Nikki Crosby. Crosby, dressed as her comical character Granny, belted out her original and very creative hit with confidence. At one point during the performance, “Granny” declared that the competition was really between her and Montano—a statement that fired up the spectators some more. Shurwayne Winchester placed fourth.