Arlene Ponteen Wins Montserrat Festival 50 House Raffle

Thursday, January 3, 2013

FESTIVAL CITY, Montserrat - Arlene Ponteen of Barzey's Montserrat is now a homeowner after winning the Festival 50 House Raffle which was drawn on December 26, 2012.

The drawing which took place live on ZJB Radio Montserrat from the home in Lookout was the culmination of a two-year promotion which saw entries from the UK, USA, and Canada and the Caribbean.

Arleen Ponteen (centre) speaks to Sharlene Lindsay of On the Road to Festival 50 and Hon. Jermaine Wade after finding out she won a new two-bedroom home in Lookout, Montserrat

 

Ponteen, who works in the Ministry of Health, said she had never won anything and so had reluctantly purchased the ticket in December of 2011. She now owns the two-bedroom house valued at EC$ 160,000 overlooking the stunning Margarita Bay in the North of the island.

Consolation prizes were won by Corine Beven of Baker Hill, Elfrida Greer of Manjack and Stafford Roberts of Davy Hill. All prizes was handed out, including the keys to the home during the closing of Montserrat's celebration of 50 years of festival on January 1, 2013.

Honourable Parliamentary Secretary Jermaine Wade thanked all who purchased the raffle tickets, the sales people and the radio stations on Antigua, St. Kitts & Nevis who partnered to promote the event.

The new owner is free to live in it, sell or lease it without any restrictions.

For more information on Festival 50 visit montserratfestival.com or follow on Twitter @MNIFestival.

 

Copyright 2013 Caribbean Emagazine All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without credit..

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Herman 'Cupid' Francis Wins Calypso Monarch Title for Montserrat's Festival 50

Monday, December 31, 2012

FESTIVAL CITY, Montserrat (December 31, 2012) -  Herman 'Cupid' Francis added a fourth calypso monarch crown to his credit after delivering two incredible performances at the 50th cultural festival celebrations Calypso Finals on Montserrat last night.

 

Cupid, who also serves as the Head of the Department of Culture and one of the island's leading song writers and music instructors also nabbed four of the eight special prizes along with the EC$15,000 cash prize for the winner.

In the first round, Cupid performed Shortly After Takeoff, a heart rending reflection of the deadly plane crash which occurred on Antigua this year and took the lives of the five people on board who were heading to Montserrat. His props depicted the events of that fateful day and added a sober reminder of the frailty of life to the very upbeat competition. Performing last in the second round, the calypsonian delivered We Outsourcing, a hilarious look at the Government of Montserrat's efforts to outsource some services.



 AJ Cassell 

Winning the Crowd Favourite and Best Newcomer prizes after delivering noteworthy performances from the calypso eliminations on December 8 to last night, was AJ Cassell, the son of the Late Soca King Arrow, who won the calypso monarch crown three times before switching to soca. AJ ended the finals as the first runner up for his renditions of Voice of this Generation and Pedigree.

James "Cruzer" Brown won the Cathron Products-sponsored Most Humorous Calypso and $500 for "Family Tree”. Cupid won Best Social Commentary for We Outsourcing and Most Creative Calypso for Shortly After Takeoff. He added the Best Writer Award, which was sponsored by LHNet and the John Bassy Award named for the late Chief Minister John Osborne and presented by his daughter Shirley Osborne with a $500 cash prize for best political commentary.

The Most Improved Calypsonian award went to Jester 'Ice Man' Weekes who ended the competition as the fifth runner up.

Final rankings are: 11th Barry "Barry J" Jarvis , 10th Davon "Rakatang" Williams, 9th Kevin "King Natty" Farrell , 8th Kelvin "Tabu" Duberry, 7th Roland "King Kenzie" Johnson, 6th Garnett "Sylk" Thompson, 5th Jester "Ice Man" Weekes, 4th Silvina "Khandie" Malone, 3rd Anderson "King Andy" Kirnon, 2nd John "Warda" Murrain, 1st AJ "AJ" Cassell, Winner Herman "Cupid" Francis

































Copyright 2012 Caribbean Emagazine All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without credit..

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Chrystal Cummins-Beckles of Barbados wins Euphony Vibes Regional Female Calypso title.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012



Chrystal Cummins-Beckles 

Chrystal Cummins-Beckles of Barbados reigned supreme over a group of talented female calypsonians to take the 2nd Euphony Vibes Regional Female Calypso title.

 

The competition was one of the major events on Montserrat's Festival 50 calendar which runs until January 1, 2013.

 

Cummins-Beckles performed sixth in each round singing two songs she wrote and arranged herself. In the first round she powerfully delivered Fly on the Wall and in the second,Forgive de Caribbean.

 

The winner told the Backstage Live Stream host Sharlene Lindsay she was very confident that she'd brought her all to the stage and that each of the women competing had done the same, making it very hard to know who the judges would choose.

 

Cummins-Beckles was visible shocked when her name was called ahead of Montserrat's former female calypso monarch Silvina "Khandie" Malone who was first runner-up and Shereena "Shea Shea" Richardson of Anguilla who was third.

Shereena "Shea Shea" Richardson of Anguilla

 

 

The other performers were last year's champ Minelle of St. Lucia, Singing Althea of Antigua & Barbuda, and Shaunelle McKenzie of St. Vincent & Grenadines.

 

The winner takes home EC$ 8000 in cash and a round trip to London. The runner-up received EC$ 5000 and two-nights at the West End Hotel Suites in Anguilla.

 

For more information on Festival 50 visit montserratfestival.com or follow on Twitter @MNIFestival.

 

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Euphony Vibes to host second Regional Female Calypso Monarch Competition in Montserrat

Monday, November 26, 2012

Euphony Vibes will host the second Regional Female Calypso Monarch Competition on Friday, 21st December in Montserrat. The show is being held as part of the 50th Festival celebrations on the island.  

Participating will be Minelle from St. Lucia who won the crown last year. Others vying for the 2012 Kaiso crown include: Singing Althea from Antigua; Shea Shea from Anguilla; Chrystal Cummins-Beckles from Barbados; Shaunelle McKenzie from St Vincent; Joycelyn Searles aka Sista Joyce from BVI; Tasha P from Dominica (first runner up last year) and Sylvina 'Kandie' Malone from Montserrat.     

Euphony Vibes event organiser Earl Sullivan is pleased that there will be representatives from eight Caribbean islands and goes on to say: "we think Kaiso fans will be thrilled about this event as within the grouping of participants who have taken up the challenge to take part, there is a vast array of talent with many of the ladies having won similar competitions in their country."

First place will be awarded EC $8,000; Second place EC $5,000; Third place EC $3,000 and all others get EC $500.00.  

 

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Countdown to Montserrat's 50th Annual Festival: December 15th 2012 - January 1st 2013

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The countdown to Montserrat's 50th annual festival goes into overdrive on Friday, October 26th, FIFTY days before celebrations kick off on Saturday, December 15th. An exciting range of events and shows are planned to mark this historical and festive time in Montserrat's history.

 

Cornerstone events organised by the festival committee include: Night of Pan featuring both junior and senior orchestras from across the island, the Festival Queen Pageant which will pay tribute to the 5 decades of pageantry, the Calypso Monarch Competition on December 30, a lively Festival Day Show and the colourful Street Parade with more than 20 different mas bands.

 

A number of private shows will also add to the excitement of the festival including the: Soca Monarch Competition, 2nd Annual Regional Female Calypso Competition, and Soca Frenzy Show which will feature 10 different soca artistes from across the Caribbean region. In total there are 70 plus events on the festival calendar with daytime activities for children and families and numerous shows for those looking to revel into the night!

 

Montserrat nationals living abroad as well as other festival goers are expected to double if not triple the island's 5,000 population and the festival committee along with Montserrat Tourism Board is looking forward to extending a warm welcome to everyone taking part in the 50th Festival celebrations.

 

Chairman of the festival committee Johnny Wyke says: "There is no better way for Montserratians and friends of Montserrat to celebrate Montserrat's 50th annual festival than to visit the island known to many as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. Making the journey will allow individuals to reconnect with family and friends as well as experience again the culture and history of the island as it works to rebuild from the volcanic eruption that happened some 17 years ago."

 

As part of celebration, The Montserrat Tourist Board will raffle off a two-bedroom house with oceanic view located in the Lookout Village of Montserrat. Valued at 160,000 Eastern Caribbean Dollars, the individual or organisation who wins the raffle will become the owner of the house, mortgage free.

 

 

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Montserrat Author Sir Howard Fergus book "Festival at Fifty" now available on Kindle

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The latest book by Sir Howard Fergus is now available on Kindle. Festival at Fifty: 1962 to 2012 was launched on 29 August at the Montserrat National Trust and this week was made available on the ebook platform for Kindles. 

Sir Howard Fergus chronicles the fifty years of Montserrat's most popular festival in 145-page book and highlights the many icons and creative personalities who come together every December to celebration the island's culture.  

Festival at Fifty includes a foreword by the Honourable Premier Reuben T. Meade and in depth look at the masquerade, calypsonians and queens and the other traditional art forms which come alive each year.  

Also released on Kindle this week is Sir Howard's new collection of poetry titled Obama and Other Poems.

Find out more about the books at Facebook.com/SirHowardFergus.  

 You can learn more about Montserrat's 50 years of festival on the official website at www.montserratfestival.com.

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Montserrat Tourist Board rafffles "House" for Montserrat's 50th Cultural Festival

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Montserrat Tourist Board has launched a house raffle as part of its promotions for Montserrat's 50th Anniversary Festival being held December 14th 2012 - January 1st 2013.

 

The two-bedroom house with oceanic view located in the Lookout Village of Montserrat is valued at 160,000 Eastern Caribbean Dollars. The individual or organisation who wins the raffle will become the owner of the house, mortgage free.  

 

Honourable Jermaine Wade, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sports & Culture with overall responsibilities for the festival said: "We are marketing this raffle as a chance to win a vacation home in Montserrat.  However, there are no limitations to what the winner may want to do with it. Sell it, rent it, keep it doesn't matter."  

 

The funds raised will go towards covering the operations of planning the largest festival to date for the island. Hundreds of nationals abroad have already confirmed their plans to attend the annual event which this year will honour the many queens, calypsonians, and volunteers who have helped to sustain the cultural extravaganza each December.

 

"We've also opened up the raffle to our friends on the neighbouring islands in the Eastern Caribbean," explained Honourable Wade. "Residents on Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis can also enter to win the house."

 

Raffle tickets are $60.00 EC for one entry or $100 EC for two entries.   Tickets can be purchased via one of the following outlets within the Caribbean Region:

 

·  Antigua: Cool & Smooth and The Source Clothing Store

·  St. Kitts: Freedom FM Radio Station and Winn FM Radio Station

·  Nevis: Von Radio Station

·  Montserrat: The Stationery Office, Annette Cummings and the Montserrat Tourism Board.

 

In addition to the grand prize for the house, there will be three consolation prizes including: 

 

1st consolation: One 46'' Flat Screen TV; 2nd consolation: One 4 Burner Stove and Oven; and 3rd consolation: One Microwave.

 

The final date to purchase raffle tickets is: Friday, December 14th 2012.   The winner for the house raffle will be drawn live on ZJB Radio Montserrat on Wednesday, December 26th 2012.

 

Information on Montserrat can be found at: www.visitmontserrat.com and additional information on Montserrat's 50 Festival can be found at: www.montserratfestival.com.

 

 

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Paran Sounds to release SOCA and CALYPSO albums for Montserrat's 50th Festival

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Paran Sounds the Montserratian owned and operated music production company/indie label based in New York is set to release two compilation albums for Montserrat's 50th Annual Festival.  Featuring soca artistes and calypsonians they are currently working with, the soca album is titled: Soca Kiss and the calypso album is titled: Calypso Explosion 2012.


The soca compilation Soca Kiss will feature new music - an eclectic mix of groovy and uptempo tracks including: "If This World Were Mine" by Prynze, "Go Down Low" by Maxcine, "Road Rage" by Storm and the soon to be released first single, a pulsating soca/dancehall track called "Front N Rear" by Black Jaguar.

  

Calypso Explosion 2012 will also feature original tracks from the calypsonians working with and representing Paran Sounds in competitions regionally including two calypso champions from Montserrat: Sylk the reigning monarch and three-time female Kaiso monarch Storm.

Infused with their usual combination of strong, creative, relevant local/global story lines and innovative arrangements, Paran Sounds endeavours to make Calypso Explosion 2012 the best Kaiso album to emerge from Montserrat in the last ten years. Calypso Explosion 2012 will be a collector's item worthy of a "Fiftieth Celebration." It will also feature the reigning Montserrat Festival Queen on the front and back covers.

According to Paran Sounds executive Wonford Duberry, "we're very excited about the music and the artistes we're working with this year. We are also extremely proud of the fact that both albums will be high quality, 100% Montserrat products. We think the fans are going to love them."  

The first single from Soca Kiss titled "Front N Rear" by soca artiste Black Jaguar will be released in August with the full album slated for release in September.  Calypso Explosion 2012 will be released in October.       

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Waka Waka Mas presents: The Treasures of Alliouagana for Montserrat Festival

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

With excitement building for Montserrat's 50th Annual Festival this December, the Waka Waka Mas band has begun showcasing their presentation, "The Treasures of Alliouagana," which was inspired by the rich culture and history of the island.   Alliouagana is the Amerindian name for the island of Montserrat and its cultural heritage is regarded as its most valuable Treasure. On New Years Day 2013, Waka Waka Mas will present three of these treasures in the form of distinctive and colorful costumes on the streets of Montserrat. Oriole (Orange) - represents Montserrat's African heritage and the national bird, the Oriole. Shamrock (Green) - represents Montserrat's Irish heritage and the island itself also known as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. Sarobei (White) - represents Montserrat's Amerindian heritage, and the silky Sea Island cotton that was once a major export of the island. Sarobei is also the Taino/Arawak word for cotton. The words "Waka Waka" are an African rally cry that translates to "Do It", as in a task, which embodies the attitude of Waka Waka Mas. In this their first major initiative, they hope not only to encourage Montserratians to come home, but also to spread the excitement of this year's festival to non-Montserratians particularly from neighbouring islands to come and join in or witness what will be a memorable 50th Anniversary celebration. U.S. based band leader Dudley Skerritt was inspired to create the group based on his early memories of the Montserrat Festival. He reminisces, "I have such fond memories of being at the street parade trying to keep up with the people dressed up in vibrant costumes and the revellers enjoying themselves to the songs of Cepeke and other calypso artistes." He says, "The Treasures of Alliouagana is a chance for those who participated back then to bring back the glory days -- pre volcanic eruption and pre Hurricane Hugo -- and for those like myself who were on the sidelines, we can finally take part, to create new memories and at the same time remind the youths about our culture."   Canada based band member Terrance Jemmotte, was inspired to get involved because, as he says, "I see Montserratians, including myself, playing mas in so many different places around the world and I wonder, why not Montserrat? What could be better than paying mas at home?". Waka Waka Mas hopes that many will answer the call to play mas this year or just visit Montserrat during this special festival celebration and help boost the local economy which is still recovering from the devastating volcanic eruption some 17 years ago.   Skerritt states, "We are organizing this event to encourage Montserratians not only to take a long overdue trip home but to participate to make the 50th celebration a memorable one for all. Despite the challenges the island has faced over the years, the island has much to offer and there is still no place like home. As the official slogan goes, "It's time to celebrate the Talent, Culture and Creativity, Montserrat Festival 50." Registration for Waka Waka Mas is via website at http://www.wakawakamas.com/ and is now open and goes through Friday, August 31st 2012.

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