Trinidad & Tobago International 2023 Soca Monarch competition, which would’ve been the first since 2020, has been officially cancelled due to a lack of finances.

Geoffrey Wharton – Lake and Ricky Ragoonanan who are the directors of the body behind the competition (Caribbean Prestige Foundation) indicated that it was a tough call to make. However, despite the legacy and popularity of the event, Ragoonanan said that the money offered to them by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago was insufficient to finance prizes and to execute the event. Wharton – Lake went on to say that, “We can no longer carry the burden of what the event is.” (Loop News TT).

Ragoonanan further expressed his sadness to Loop News TT by expressing that the Soca Monarch competition, “is the only stepping stone for new artists but the government has to see that, and if they don’t see it fit, they are killing the culture. The promoters are not bringing the new performers on stage, that is the only platform these guys have.”

The event that Wharton – Lake and Ragoonanan had carded for this year was supposed to involve a changed format, in which they had a proposal to bring back past winners to compete against newcomers. The future of the Soca Monarch competition is not certain. Wharton Lake and Ragoonanan told Loop News TT that after Carnival they intend to meet with stakeholders of the event and anyone interested in reviving the event. If they are dissatisfied with the support for the show they would step down.

Founded by William Monroe in 1993 the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Monarch competition has morphed into an international event that is one of the most anticipated nights of the Carnival Season. Soca listeners would come from all over the world for a night of catchy soca, rivalry, and good vibes.

It is very sad to hear that an event that has become a Carnival Tradition can not happen this year. Soca music will have to find a home on our radios and at fetes for this Carnival Season.

 

References

Loop News TT tt.loopnews.com

Sokah2soca https://www.sokah2soca.com/p/soca-monarch-winners-trinidad-tobago.html