First and foremost, I would like to wish all Community Contact readers a Happy and prosperous New Year.
I believe 2018 is definitely the year of hope and good things to come, as it is evident in both the Dancehall and Soca/Carnival arena. Hope is seeing the light in spite of being surrounded by darkness.
Is this the year both Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton are released from prison?
After a 17-years absence in the Road March race, can Iwer
George take it this year? International Chutney Soca Monarch Competition was cancelled until the Government stepped in to help.
We know for sure that of the two Jamaican music superstars
Incarcerated, Buju Banton will be released this year; his release date is set for November this year. He has already served his full sentence and has exhausted all his legal options after losing several appeals.
The Grammy-winning reggae singer was convicted on three counts of drug trafficking charges in Miami in 2011.
Banton, born Mark Myrie, was sentenced to ten years in a federal prison for the crime as he maintained his innocence.
On the other hand, Vybz Kartel’s appeal trial is set for July of this year, and his legal team is pulling out all the stops for a breakthrough in the controversial murder case.
Kartel, whose government name is Adidja
Palmer, was acquitted of the murder of Barrington “Bossie” Burton in 2013. The following year, he wasn’t so lucky and was convicted of the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, a man whom authorities say was a member of his inner circle [of friends]. This appeal trial will be the last chance to prove his innocence.
Soca veteran Neil ‘Iwer’ George released a revolutionary Soca track, titled “Savannah” to contend for the 2018 Road March. In 2000, Iwer released ‘Carnival Come Back Again’ where he placed second to Super Blue in that year’s Soca Monarch competition.
That year, he tied with Super Blue for the Road March competition, after it was reported that he wouldn’t win because his song was never played before any judging point in Point Fortin. However, the carnival stakeholders could not produce any documents to corroborate the claim, so Iwer was set to tie with Super Blue.
The controversy caused divisions and problems so Iwer George decided to stay out of future Road March competitions as this unfair treatment took a toll on him.
As 2018 started, the organizers of the International Chutney Soca Monarch competition revealed that this year’s competition would be
cancelled due to the current economic situation, and claimed the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) had pulled its sponsorship.
Many chutney singers, including KI and Ricki Jai expressed their disappointment after the announcement that the competition would be cancelled this year.
If this event is cancelled it would be the first time since it was launched in 1996. Until the Finance Minister Colm Imbert made the announcement at a media conference that the Government would be giving the competition organizers one million dollars.
So now the semifinals will take place on Saturday, January 13, at LIV
Nightlife, Gulf View, La Romaine, featuring 34 contestants.
Island Facts:
– Jan 3, 1972 – Trini supergroup Xtatik’s vocalist Peter C. was born
in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago.
– Jan 4, 1901 – Famed Trinidadian writer born on this day.
Be free to send your feedback on any of my articles to
Productionsounds@gmail.com or Instagram – @Productionjr
Production Sounds Chart
1 Full of Vibe – Voice
2 Splinters – Shal Marshall
3 Is Jam – Dev
4 Showtime – Machel Montano
5 Year For Love – Voice
6 Hello – Kes The Band
7 Mhm Hm – Vybz Kartel
8 Skankin’ Sweet – Chronixx
9 Fresh Cash – Mavado
10 Give It To Ya – Marzville
