Although there is still no final word on whether or not there will be Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago in 2022, CSM founder and Executive Producer, George Singh recently announced that the annual Chutney Soca Monarch (CSM) competition will be on.

Speaking via a virtual press conference on social media recently, Singh revealed that the competition is on with even hopes to have a live audience at the grand final if he’s allowed to do so. Coming off the heels of a completely virtual show in 2021 due to the pandemic, Singh said that the CSM 2022 will be held in a 100% safe environment following all protocols and guidelines as set out by the public health authorities. This includes all performers on stage, handlers, prop builders of the venue, technical crew, etc having to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination.

Singh also shared that screening will start as early as Friday 24th December 2021, along with registration which will continue up until the middle of January. The semifinals will be held in a sterile environment and will be designed for social media, with two-/three-minute clips posted to all of our social media platforms. Judges and an interactive, online viewing audience will be part of the final selection process.

Fans can rest assured that full theatrical productions at the finals can be expected and hopefully once permitted, a limited audience. The competition will be live on national television and also streamed on all social media networks. There will also be plans to include artistes from Guyana, US, and Canada in addition to plans to crown a CSM Queen at the 2022 Monarch.

In more CSM news, fans will also be able to join in the fun as there will be a text and online voting element during the competition and its events that will be held over a two-month period in January-February next year. More updates on the competition will be given at a later date as the government still have to give their official list of protocols and guidelines for Carnival-type events.

The 2021 Reigning CSM King. GI Beharry for the past two years has also stated that he intends to defend his title but would take into account developments regarding the pandemic and the Government’s protocols and regulations.

So are you looking forward to the 2022 Chutney Soca Monarch? Let us know in the comments!

Sources include: https://newsday.co.tt, https://www.ttt.live

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