Soca Monarch returns to Stadium

[Flex]

Soca Monarch returns to Stadium
By LEISELLE MARAJ Friday, January 7 2011

THE finals of the bmobile International Soca Monarch 2011 will return to the Hasley Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain after receiving permission from the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago to use the facility.

Under the former government, then Sports Minister Gary Hunt announced a ban on the use of sport facilities for cultural events in November 2009, ahead of the 2010 Carnival season. The Soca Monarch, which is usually staged at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, was therefore accommodated at the Queen’s Park Oval last year.

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Roberts yesterday confirmed that the Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts was successful in securing the stadium for the finals of the competition. He said the organisers of Soca Monarch applied to the Sport Company, which oversees all State-owned sporting facilities, and was granted permission to use the facility.

“Our Government believes in the synergy of culture and sport as they are intrinsically linked. In addition, the decision is a good one considering fiscal prudence. Our stadia require large sums of money to be maintained on a monthly basis and hosting such events help reduce deficits resulting from running them and add to their coffers,” Roberts said.

Hunt, when the ban was announced in November 2009, explained that $27 million was spent to refurbish the national stadium and events such as cultural shows damage the field at the venue. Roberts said the ministry would be happy to accommodate events like the Soca Monarch and the Sports Company will ensure the best flooring possible will be used to protect the field. “We will take care of the field and treat it with the respect it deserves. It is a privilege to host a cultural event that could only be an advantage to Trinidad and Tobago. We are seeking to diversify the economy and Tourism is one area we are seeking to develop, including sports and cultural tourism.

This competition is one that is seen by millions across the world and what a better way than to expose the world to our artiste in a venue which boasts of some of the best infrastructure in the Caribbean,” he said.

He added he was happy to see a change in policy that now allows concerts and cultural events to again be hosted at sporting facilities and expressed hope concert promoters would also be pleased. Established and aspiring soca artistes are invited to register to take part in the 2011 edition of Soca Monarch. In a media release issued yesterday, Caribbean Prestige foundation said registration will run until 5pm on January 27. Semi-finals will take place at the Arima Velodrome on February 13 and finals will take place on Carnival Friday, February 4.

[Flex]

T&T is really a backward country, spend millions to upgrade the stadiums for the under 17 women WC 4 months ago and now the HCS is a concert/party house. !!!!!!

Can anyone tell me the real purpose of the National Academy for Performing Arts ?

[D.H.W]

how they could be serious about sport when people cant use the stadium to train, Right when track & field season begining. it takes days to get the stadium ready , then to dismantle all them thing. No wonder d Arima veledrome destroyed.

[Socapro]

One setta mamaguysim of the general T&T public but our Sports Minister is not looking after the thing that his job title implies he should be looking after! Maybe he should be given Gypsy's job instead!!

[Sam]

Well said Soca-Krapo !!!!

De Minister of Sport do everything but Sports !!!!

[weary1969]

T&T is really a backward country, spend millions to upgrade the stadiums for the under 17 women WC 4 months ago and now the HCS is a concert/party house. !!!!!!

Can anyone tell me the real purpose of the National Academy for Performing Arts ?

IS NOT 4 FETE plus it does hold 1500 people.

[Bourbon]

NAPA is a different kinda setting.


However why not?


 Football eh making no sense nah. De only ting we could qualify for consistently is fete. 

[davyjenny1]

T&T is really a backward country, spend millions to upgrade the stadiums for the under 17 women WC 4 months ago and now the HCS is a concert/party house. !!!!!!

Can anyone tell me the real purpose of the National Academy for Performing Arts ?

Backward is an understatement. They still operating with a colonial mentality.

Flex ! Reminder: Socawarriors.net / Warrior nation promoting: Blood Sweat and Fete

[Flex]

T&T is really a backward country, spend millions to upgrade the stadiums for the under 17 women WC 4 months ago and now the HCS is a concert/party house. !!!!!!

Can anyone tell me the real purpose of the National Academy for Performing Arts ?

Backward is an understatement. They still operating with a colonial mentality.

Flex ! Reminder: Socawarriors.net / Warrior nation promoting: Blood Sweat and Fete

Well, that not bad when you really look at it, fete last !!!!!! work first, party later. 

[Flex]

10,000 MORE SEATS FOR THE SAVANNAH
By LEISLLE MARAJ Sunday, January 9 2011

Approximately 10,000 more seats will be added to the seating capacity at the Queen’s Park Savannah so organisations hosting events at the venue for Carnival 2011 can earn more money.

Permanent Secretary of the Arts and Multiculturalism Ministry, Esme Rawlins-Charles, announced this at the launch of the Panorama competition hosted by PanTrinbago on Friday night at the Trinidad All Stars pan theatre, Duke Street, Port-of-Spain. She represented Multiculturalism Minister, Winston Peters, who was unable to attend the event.

“The Ministry is playing its part to fulfill its mandate of delivering to the people and the world. In conjunction with the National Carnival Commission, we have been successful in significantly increasing the seating capacity of the stands at the Queen’s Park Savannah from approximately 4,000 in the last three years to approximately 14,000 in 2011.

This is a major development as it will facilitate a considerable increase in direct earnings to all stakeholder organisations staging activities at this venue for Carnival 2011.

This will present opportunity for PanTrinbago to move towards self sustainability,” she said. She added the ministry is also assisting steelpan after it succeeded in obtaining Cabinet approval for $2.6 million in funding for assistance to all un-sponsored steelbands participating in Panorama. Rawlins-Charles said a cheque should be generated sometime during the next week. She pointed out the ministry and PanTrinbago were not seeing eye to eye at present because the organisation is asking for a fee of $1,000 for Panorama pan players while the ministry is offering $800.

“While both parties may not always agree on critical elements of action, we share a common vision of sustainable development of the steelband fraternity as an industry that has immense potential.

“The future of steelpan is bright but there are many challenges that must be tackled head on to ensure unhindered progress,” she said.

One such challenge, she said, is the construction of the PanTrinbago headquarters at land allocated to the organisation ten years ago.

She assured that Peters intends on building the headquarters during his time in office.

[Bourbon]

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,133670.html

ONE WEEK after the staging of the launch of the radio station Star 94.7, which featured American alternative group, Maroon 5, the management of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain has been served with a noise violation notice.

The notice was issued by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) following investigations done on the evening of the event by the Environmental Police Unit that works with the EMA.

“The EMA investigated the launch when it was discovered that the proceedings were being staged in the absence of a variation permit issued under the Noise Pollution Control Rules prior to the holding of the event,” an e-mail from EMA explained.

EMA Managing Director/CEO Dr Joth Singh stated in the email that it is the duty of all facility operators where public functions of this nature are to be held to apply for a noise variation permit. Management at the stadium could not be reached for comment.

[weary1969]

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,133670.html

ONE WEEK after the staging of the launch of the radio station Star 94.7, which featured American alternative group, Maroon 5, the management of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain has been served with a noise violation notice.

The notice was issued by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) following investigations done on the evening of the event by the Environmental Police Unit that works with the EMA.

“The EMA investigated the launch when it was discovered that the proceedings were being staged in the absence of a variation permit issued under the Noise Pollution Control Rules prior to the holding of the event,” an e-mail from EMA explained.

EMA Managing Director/CEO Dr Joth Singh stated in the email that it is the duty of all facility operators where public functions of this nature are to be held to apply for a noise variation permit. Management at the stadium could not be reached for comment.

Dat is 1st of many 4 d season.