Rucas commits to 2017/2018 event
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUST months before the official launch of the 2017/2018 National Carnival, the cultural extravaganza’s Committee is coming in for criticisms.
Published reports have indicated that several Soca artistes are unhappy with the proposed changes that are to be implemented for this year’s competition, and defending Groovy Champion Caseem ‘Rucas’ Pemberton is among them.
Last week, while a guest on WINN FM’s ‘Voices’ programme, Chairman of the National Carnival Committee, Noah Mills had indicated, among other things, that they are looking at having one Soca Competition.
“…in both Montserrat as well as BVI, which are smaller islands, and by extension Trinidad, the Soca model is one competition. There is no Groovy and there is no Power section, and we have decided to adopt that model this year.
After romping to victory last year with his over-the-top African presentation of ‘Sway’, Rucas is perplexed over the Committee’s decision.
SKNVibes Entertainment sat down with Rucas yesterday (Aug. 15) and he explained that the year has been very favourable for him as the Groovy champion.
According to Rucas, he had performed at a number of gigs overseas and competed in various regional competitions, including the recently completed BVI Soca Monarch Competition.
In the British Virgin Island, Rucas captured the award for the Grooviest Performance, something that he is proud of.
However, when it comes to the proposed changes, Rucas believes that there should have been some consultation before they take effect.
“I am a bit surprised because I honestly think that the reigning Monarchs, along with the other artistes, should at least have some sort of meeting with the Carnival Committee so we can have an idea as to what is going to happen going forward.
“And this is for the Carnival Committee to see how we feel about the change in the competition.”
Mills acknowledged that the artistes were not consulted before the decisions was made, according to WINN FM News.
Despite that, Rucas has given the assurance that he would be competing in this year’s competition.
“I will be competing, I can guarantee you that.”
Taking the positives from the changes, Rucas declared that “it gives us the opportunity as artistes to rethink what we as artistes have to do for Soca Monarch this year”.
He opined that the proposed changes would give those who performed in the Power segment an advantage, as they are more likely to gain the crowd’s attention with the up-tempo beat.
