Chief Executive Officer of HD Promotions Mr. Eustace ‘Boss’ Freeman said with all assurance, that the 2014 Soca Monarch competition is on. Photo: VINO

Tino and Kingman emerged victorious in the Groovy and Power segments respectively in the first ever Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival's Soca Monarchs, the first to have been staged in the VI on July 31, 2013. Photo: VINO/File

Leader of Show Time Band Mr. Eustace 'Boss' Freeman said that his group are in receipt of most of their monies for 2013 festivals and it is business as usual with preparation for 2014. Photo: VINO/File

Manager of Hardcore Band Ms. Tamra J. Caul said that they are ready for 2014 but is demanding that they be given advance payments in a business-like manner. Photo: VINO/File

Chairman of the BVI Festivals and Fairs committee Mr. Marvin Blyden said that while the theme and slogan for festival 2014 will be released this week, the status of the Soca Monarch is not yet decided. Photo: VINO/File

The assurance followed the publication of a story yesterday January 7, 2014 with the sub-caption ‘Soca Monarch 2014 not yet confirmed’. Chairman of the BVI Festivals and Fairs Committee Mr. Marvin Blyden aka ‘MB’ had told this news site that the Committee had not commenced discussions on matters surrounding the Soca Monarch competition for this year as there were ‘some cleaning up’ that had to be done.

However, in seeking to clear the air and set the records straight, Mr. Freeman told this news site that the Soca Monarch, while promoted during the Festival events, is a private promotion of HD Productions. He said that they have already commenced advertising and marketing for the competition as most arrangements are already set.

“We want everyone to be assured that the Soca Monarch is a sure thing for this year. Last year was the first time and we would have learnt a lot and will be doing our best this year at making that competition even bigger and better,” stated Mr. Freeman, who also announced that registration commences on February 1, 2014.

He said that one of several things that would be improved from that of last year will be the elimination round. “We are working to have a real elimination round promotion this time around. So it’s going to be the semi finals and the finals.”

He also said that they will be continuing the two categories, groovy and power. “We are putting every effort into making the quality of the Soca Monarch 2014 at a quality that would surpass that of the first year that we did it, that’s last year.”

At this stage there is no fixed cap to the number of persons entering the competition and according to Mr. Freeman, they are hoping that a number of young budding artistes with a flair for Soca would participate.

“Again we want to thank all those persons who participated in the Soca Monarch last year. Without you it couldn’t happen and we want to come again this year. It’s going to be bigger and better so put your all into it and let’s show the world what great talents we have here in the BVI.”

The first competition, which was held on July 31, 2013 at the Ira Oliver Skelton Festiville,  saw Tino and Kingman etching their names in the history books as the first ever Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival Soca Monarchs. The two emerged victorious in the Groovy and Power segments respectively.

Those who had made it through to the finals for the Groovy category were Tino - Facebook mashup my relationship, Makisha - Sumtin I could work with, Dante - Soca wine, Joe Ranking/Dante-Spanglish, Hashim- Can't miss it, Keybe- All in All, Shiloh - Come Back and Nazarene - Big Bum.

In the Power segment were Mr. KC –Ban Me, Kingman - Super Cop, JJ -Two Hands, Tino - Mad People, Ras Beach - Good+Bad, Joe Ranking - Relevant and Daddy Pit - Fire in de hole.

See previous story published January 8, 2014:

Festival 2014 a sure go, but key players demand upfront payments

- Soca Monarch 2014 not yet confirmed

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Many persons, groups and bands who were blowing their tops for not being paid months after Festival 2013, are much calmer now as most have reported that their payments have begun to roll in. However, they are remaining firm not to have a recurrence this year.

Members of the Hardcore band and its manager Ms. Tamra J. Caul, members of Showtime Band and its leader Mr. Eustace ‘Boss’ Freeman and several others who were owed monies by the Ministry of Culture said that as of yesterday January 7, 2014, they have received their payments in full for some events and part for others.

“We are getting our monies, we received for the road show and I think by tomorrow (today January 8, 2014) we will be collecting some other monies that they have for us,” said Mr. Freeman.

On the other hand, Ms. Caul said that they were on the backs of those responsible for payments every day until they were paid. “We got all our monies but we didn’t play we called them so often that they had to pay us quickly.”

Both individuals said that because of their commitment to the entertainment industry in the Virgin Islands, they are prepared to give of their best to the festivities this year but are holding firm on certain requirements that must be met by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the BVI Festivals and Fairs Committee.

“We already doing our thing to give the people our best during festivals but there are some conditions that we will be holding strong on this year and we really mean it,” said Mr. Freeman. He stated as said in previous reports, “We decided that this year we would not be signing any contract prepared by the committee or the ministry, we will prepare our own contract with our terms and conditions and they have to sign on to our contract with our conditions,” said Freeman. “As it is right now it is business as usual.”

He said that Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn has given him the assurance that systems are being streamlined to ensure that things are better coordinated this year as it relates especially to payments.

As for Hardcore Band, the Manager Ms. Caul said contract signing this year must have certain conditions which includes receiving an advance payment before anything can happen. “Business has to be right, this thing with last payment and running to get your money must stop,” she said adding, “Once the respect is there, we get our advance up front we good to go, but this must be done businesslike now.”

Mr. Freeman said that his band has already streamlined preparations and promises to hit the VI by storm with two new songs that would be released for festival. However, he said there have been no discussions with regards to the Soca Monarch shows so far.

Chairman of the BVI Festivals and Fairs Committee Mr. Marvin Blyden aka M.B has also confirmed that payments for activities of the 2013 festival have been rolling out at a very expeditious pace. While not very sure of the figures at the time of speaking with this new site, he averaged that payments were 75 percent complete.

According to Mr. Blyden, before the end of this week, the committee would be releasing the theme and slogan for Festival 2014. “We couldn’t go about releasing themes and slogans and not complete paying our bills for last year. Now that is under control I have given the directives for the slogan and theme to be released before the end of the week,” said Mr. Blyden.

However, the fate of a second go at the Soca Monarch which was introduced last year, is unknown. Asked about this, the Chairman said that he was not in a position to pronounce on that aspect for 2014. He said that within two weeks’ time, they plan to sit and examine the 2013 event and it is at that stage a decision would be made.

“I can’t give any confirmation on the Soca Monarch right now, we still have some cleaning up to do with that,” he disclosed.