Machel Draws No. 9 – Could 9 Be Machel’s Lucky Number?
The Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts hosted the draw for positions for the finals of the Bmobile International Soca Monarch and Play Whe Groovy Soca Monarch Competitions 2011. Unbelievably, Machel Montano has never won the Soca Monarch title and many believe this could be his year.
What is Carnival without a little bit of drama! Four-time Power Soca Monarch winner Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez has accused fellow soca artist Machel Montano of “playing politics” to win tonight’s Power Soca Monarch grand prize.
The much-coveted first prize in the Power Soca competition is $2 million. The second place winner will collect $600,000, while the 3rd place winner will be rewarded with $300,000. Fourth place is valued at $200,000 while those placing 5th to 11th will get $115,000. Individuals placing in the 12th, 13th and 14th positions in the finals will receive $50,000.
The order of appearance for competitors in the International Soca Monarch are:
1. JW and Blaze
2. Blood (Andy Armstrong)
3. Skinny Fabulous SVG
4. Michelle Xavier
5. Shal Marshall
6. Nadia and Tallpree
7. Iwer George
8. Nadia and Patrice Robert
9. Machel Montano
10. Destra
11. Ravi B
12. Bunji Garlin
13. Tian Winter
14. Fay Ann Lyons
Much to Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon’s disapproval, the Groovy Soca Monarch winner will only get half a million dollars. “I just found out the prize distribution. I believed that the $2 million was for all competitions and not just the Power Soca”. Belfon believes that all of the soca artists are performing at a high level and should all be equally compensated. The second place winner will receive $225,000, 3rd place will get $125,000, the 4th placed winner will get $115,000 dollars, those from 5th to 10th positions will get $100,000 and competitors placing 12th to 15thwill receive $50,000.
The order of appearance for competitors in the Play Whe Groovy Soca Monarch finals positions are:
1. Ras Star
2. Jahmoun
3. Patch and Yankee Boy
4. Kes
5. Blaxx
6. All Rounder
7. Shurwayne Winchester
8. Destra
9. Chucky
10. Benjai
11. Denise Belfon
12. Patrice Roberts
13. Kerwin Du Bois
14. Megan Waldron
15. Cassi
