Machel Montano HD No More for 2010?

According to the Trinidad Guardian, Machel Montano has handed over the mantle of leader of the HD Family to Farmer Nappy; Machel will not be a headliner for Trinidad Carnival 2010:

Patrice Roberts is the boss, Farmer Nappy, the veteran, Zan, the cool operator and Umi Marcano is definitely the dancer-boy. The foursome are the HD Family—not HD mind you, as that title’s reserved for Machel Montano, the man who’s ruled the soca game for more than ten years.Going into 2010, Montano has opted to focus on other things, leaving his team to travel their own journey, even amid whispers of doubt and uncertainty........

They don’t see what many in the entertainment industry have been chattering about—the risk of the band losing its following because Montano won’t be the headline act for Carnival next year. In fact, Patrice says she thinks it’s a strategy. “You know Machel always tries to re-invent himself.” The new boss, as the guys call her, explains that Machel will be back and forth and he will be around, just not centre-stage. They agree that this new outfit will be a little different for the people to absorb, but they are confident that they will serve their purpose well.

I am curious to see what this means for the HD Family, the Road March race, the soca mafia  and the impact it will have on Carnival in 2010. Will Machel be missed next year and how important do you think his infulence is on your Carnival experience?

TRIBE Online Credit Card Payments Now Available

Finally! Now you can make payments towards you costumes online at TRIBE's website using your credit card. You  do need your TLC Username and Password, however I just gave it a test run and it is working. Some more information on the online payment for you TRIBERS:

PAYMENT INFORMATION

Further payments can be made NOW.

- In-House (TRIBE Mas Camp): Cash & LINX during advertised opening hours.

- Online: Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard) during the hours of 5pm to 12noon.

Site closed during our advertised opening hours of 12noon to 5pm on weekdays.

To make a secure online credit card payment:

1. Click on "My Account" on the menu bar

2. Enter your usernmae and password

3. Click "Add Payment" (Bottom right corner of page)

4. Complete all "Required Fields*"

5. Verify all information entered

6. Click "Make Secure Payment"

7. Print page for your records

Please note that all credit card payments are conducted in US$. The conversion amount will be determined by your bank or credit card provider at the time of billing. This amount will be reflected on your credit card statement.

Fete Promoters Under Fire !

Prime Minister Patrick Manning has lashed out against fete promoters who have used sporting venues, like the National Stadium, in the past to hold fetes . The promoters are up in arms over a ban by Sports Minister Gary Hunt which states that fetes and other cultural events can no longer be held at the Jean Pierre Complex or National Stadium. This comes after the opening of the 480 million dollar Academy for Performing Arts which comes under criticism as not being a venue for fetes and smaller theater productions.

As reported by the Trinidad Guardian, Prime Minister Patrick Manning has stated that fete promoters will no longer make  money on citizen's head and should build their own facilities:

Manning said yesterday: “Last year, I gave instructions that they be allowed to use the Hasely Crawford Stadium and it is the last time I do that because of the condition they left it in. “We warned them if you don’t leave it in a proper condition you are not going to get it again and that is exactly what they did,” he added. Manning said the Government had spent a lot of money for the Caribbean Games which did not come off and it would be irresponsible of the Government “really, to hand it over to the promoters for them to make money out of it...We can’t do that.”

He said the people who staged big shows, including Soca Monarch, Alternative Concert, Ladies Night Out, Divas of Soca and the Alternative Comedy Festival were businessmen and promoters who made money out of these shows. Manning said: “Why don’t they build their own facilities. That is a private sector initiative. There is a tendency in this country that government must do everything so people could maximise their profits at the expense of citizens. That is something the Government cannot encourage,” Manning said.

Consequent to this comes the resignation of Gregory Fernandes CEO of Caribbean Prestige Foundation (CPF) which produced the International Soca Monarch, Groovy Soca Monarch and Schools Soca Monarch competitions. The CPF has distanced itself from comments made by Mr Fernandes calling for a reversal as the ban as there are no large scale venues to hold the events produced by the CPF.