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Road March Champion prize doubled, second place prize included!

- Late troupes not eligible to be judged
July 31st, 2012 | Tags: Showtime band road march Marvin Blyden
The 5 time Road March champion Showtime Band, won the 2011 Road March with "Buns of Steel". Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Following recent changes made by the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee regarding the annual Calypso Show, the committee has also come to a decision to double the winning of this year’s Road March champion, as well as, to include a second place prize.

According to the Parade Committee Chair Ottley Hodge, he informed this news site that this is a change that will be implemented by the committee to further reward the efforts and talent of the winners and to provide support for the next best thing.

According to Mr. Hodge, This year’s Road March winner will receive a cash prize of $5000 and second place will receive $2500. $2500 was the regular prize given to Road March winners in the past.

Along with an increase in winning, Mr. Hodge added that the committee will also provide an all-expense paid trip to the winners, to anywhere they would like to go to represent the Virgin Islands.

Mr. Hodge also indicated that another change implemented by the committee is that any troupe that is not on time on parade day, and is not already in the line and in the space assigned to them, will not be eligible to be judged, but can still take part in the parade.

“If a troupe loses their spot they will not be viable to be judged. If they are not in their spot before 12 O’ Clock, they will go to the back of the line, where they can still take part in the parade.”

According to Chairman Marvin Blyden, it is their responsibility to ensure that the appropriate changes are made to provide a safe, equal and enjoyable 2012 festival.

Last year’s Road March winner was Showtime Band who won with their song “Buns of Steel” will be going for their 6th consecutive Road March Title. The band has been dominating the road march scene for many years and it will be another year to see if they can hold on to that title.

17 Responses to “Road March Champion prize doubled, second place prize included! ”

  • --------------------- (31/07/2012, 09:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    more money for show time
  • parole buddy (31/07/2012, 10:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How can you have a road march if only one band is playing the song. To have a road march multiple bands will have to be playing a particular song in the parade and the jouvert. The name speaks for itself road march the tune that the people are marching to on the the road. If every band is only playing their song there cannot be a road march champ. In other words the most popular song or tune playing on the road.
    • susan (31/07/2012, 12:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am a big fan of Show time to the bone but this is so wrong how can Mr. Hodge be on the parade committee as the chairman he is a member of show time and anything that is said and done will be in the best interest of Show Time this is ridiculous this should never happen only Tortola this can happen I am a BVI Islander and this does not look right in the eyes of the public for Show Time we know we done win the road march crown for 2012 cause only one band Tola have and that’s Show Time but let’s do it better and bigger fair and square Ottley I think you need to step down and let do this thing again .
      • Real Talk (31/07/2012, 22:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        I almost got an asthma attack reading this, punctuation marks are your friend! But good points, only in the BVI! LOL! He's on the committee advocating for double monies for his band which will more than likely capture the title - PRICELESS!! :)
  • Wow (31/07/2012, 13:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I thought the Government was so broke..They couldnt give VG $$ for Coney Island or one International Artist but check out the line up for Tola. They have new fence all around. Calypsonian got a new car. Now they doubling the road march prize in addition to the all expense paid trip. VG wake up!!! Next 4 years they coming for your votes again. Tola people will say the island only have 5 people living when the politicians come tell them the 5 people aint voting....Sad...
  • fish (31/07/2012, 14:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i backing the dirsy bad xtreem
  • Question (31/07/2012, 15:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have 2 questions how is it the govt and the committe doubling and tripling prizes when they say they didnt get as much money needed to put on a good festival? Besides Lime 33k and govt 150k where are they getting all this extra prize money from. 2nd how is it that Ottley is the Parade Chairman and is a member of one of the bands contending for Roadmarch ? isnt that conflict of interest? he should have no dealings in that area at all , he could have been on any other committe that just seems so wrong. I think there are so many conflicts here in this lil place the name should be change to contola
  • making sports (31/07/2012, 16:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    but is not Mr. Hodge with showtime??? is that not a conflict????
    • Tola Don (31/07/2012, 18:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      It's more than a conflict it's just wrong he's the chairman of the parade committe who decides the road march champion and is the founder/member of show time now it's crystal clear how show time won 5 straight years. That all I got to say...... Because who knows what's being done behind the scene. Friday as good he was ain't win 5 straight and he was the best at what he did. This needs to be look into right away.... Because at times show time don't have the most popular song but won Xtreme was rob numerous times and the fans them know it..
  • Remember the seniors (31/07/2012, 18:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please remember the seniors coming from the home from 10 a.m. and the parade do not start until 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. Take these people and everyone else into consideration. Do not close the government road until 45 minutes before the parade starts. If you know the parade is not going to start on time do not close the road. Remember the road that everyone can use now to come down into town is presently close for construction.
  • love boat (31/07/2012, 21:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i thought Dr. Smith lied and say VIP left the country broke and where they found money to increase the prize????
  • man down (31/07/2012, 21:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    myron playing smart just payback for showtime members who half of them is NDP and he hoping that they win road march again...he better quit while he ahead
  • conflict anyone??? (31/07/2012, 23:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Hodge is the founder of show time and the chair of what??? you nearly mek me spit out my water!!
    • Tola Don (01/08/2012, 00:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      As I said Mr. Hodge is the Chairman of the Parade Committe and is the Founder/Member of Show time. This is facts ok no hear say and is dead wrong. Show Time got an advantage that no one else have. The Founder of Show Time will never let Xtreme win you mad/hot and Show Time is dear to his heart. If Dirky Xtreme Owner/Founder was Chairman of the Parade Committe and won the Road March 5 striaght years you would of heard foul the cry from Show Time Mr Hodge and them fans but because it's not so all is well. Show Time need help to win because it's known that Xtreme got the songs and plays music. Youngsters follow Show Time not a mature crowd and this is a fact....
  • Anonymous (01/08/2012, 00:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The chairman of the parade committee is not the one judging the road march competition you fools, there are judges for that!
  • max (05/08/2012, 14:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hey as i know road march suppose to be 1 song from every band that everyone likes and plays that most in jovt and the parade the most.I like showtime band music and i also like extreme band music also.i think first of all they have to fix the rules of how many songs can one band push as there song that they think can win there band a road march.Second of all i think that no one on the carnival comittee office should be in bands,calpyso monarchs,queen show,etc,any thing that including winning of titles,money,or any prize.I can't sit here and say it was a cheat that showtime won ,because all the entertainment in the BVI and VI is very good..i just think it's just a big miss understanding that needs to be fix.before it gets rediculous.And kills the spirit of carnival and entertainment in tortola.because without all the people that supplies all the music fun and laughter.it dont have any carnival.so i think that to prove the people that everything is fair the chaiman of the carnival Mr.Hodge should step down from that job.and prove the people and bands wrong that showtime band can win road march without him on the comittee.


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