The number of artistes who will have a chance to win the Ragga and Power Soca Monarch titles will be fewer this year.
The Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) says 20 artistes each will be selected for the Ragga Soca and Power Soca semi-finals, down from 25 in each category last year.
The CDC’s marketing and shows coordinator, Anthony Dennie told a press conference on Tuesday, that nine artistes will make it to the finals in each category.
“The CDC is looking at the whole matter of time and we are gonna be certainly sitting down, knocking our heads together as to how — we don’t want to kill the entertainment but it is very important that we have a nice flow…”
Dennie noted that some persons love it when the show, which begins at 9 p.m., ends at 7 a.m. the following day.
“I know some persons enjoy it, leaving the park at the break of dawn. We are going to be making the effort for 2019 to have an earlier finish to soca monarch for Vincy Mas,” he said.
Also this week, the CDC announced the opening of registration for the Ragga Soca and Soca Semi Finals and will continue until June 11.
All registration forms must be accompanied by a copy of the song on a CD, which should be ready for airplay.
The selection of the semi-finalists takes place on June 12 at the Victoria Park at 6 p.m.
The semi-finals take place on June 22, at a venue to be announced.
The E.T. Joshua tarmac is not available this year because of Tradewinds, a regional military exercise.
Delroy “Fireman” Hooper and Fimber “Fimba” Jardine are the defending Soca Monarch and Ragga Soca Monarchs.