The 8 Soca artistes who did not draw a number to establish order of performance and who have been at odds with the National Carnival Committee Chairman Noah Mills over rules and regulations governing the soca monarch competition convened a press conference on Freedom Fm on Thursday to set the record straight.
The lead spokesman for the group Leslie “Sugarbowl” Morton revealed that there were problems with Chairman Noah Mills from the onset.
The group of artists are at loggerheads with the chairman over several issues including his decision to allow artists with songs that were contested in the Culturama soca monarch competition to advance to the semifinals. The removal of newcomer Rolex, who at 17, is under the required 18 years and over to participate.
Another issue is that an unnamed artists submitted somebody else’s song as his/hers and has advanced to the semis.
Yet another is the increase in the number of semi finalists from 15-17, which is against the rules.
On Thursday the artistes at the press conference other soca artistes also ventilated their concerns over the deepening impasse with the NCC chairman Mills who they accused of deception and micro management. Reigning groovy monarch Mr Bagnall explained said the Chairman had not looked out for the interests of the soca artistes at any time. K Jah and Pinocchio and Mr Hype also expressed their dissatisfaction with Chairman Mills whom they accused of changing the rules to suit his decisions and not abiding by the constitution.
Other supporting artistes at Thursdays press conference included La Donna, former soca monarch Takeover and Nevis soca artiste Seeco.
Following Thursdays press conference attended by ZIZ, WINN FM, Labour Spokesman, the St.Kitts-Nevis Observer, SKN Vibes, the Leeward Times, Choice Fm, Kyss Fm, and Freedom Fm, the artistes were called in to a meeting with the minister of culture the Hon. Shawn Richards where the issues were ventilated.
However on Friday morning, Soca power King Sugarbowl told Freedom newsdesk that their request to have the semis postponed to Monday night had not been met. Bowl explained what occurred at the meeting with Minister Richards.
Although the matters remain unresolved the artistes were grateful for the opportunity to highlight their grievances. The soca semi finals will take place on Friday 11th December at 17 Degrees.