-Shelly G fails to turn up for title defence
Four years of trying paid off for soca singer Orlando ‘Bonesman’ when he was crowned the Carib Soca Monarch early yesterday morning but some of the sheen from his victory may have been lost as the reigning soca queen failed to turn up and defend her crown.
Word out of the National Park was that some Shelly G fans were calling her but she was a no show, shocking organizers and fans alike.
Contacted yesterday, organizer of the event Nigel Worrell would only confirm that Shelly G was a no show but offered no further comments. He did say that Carib would be holding a press conference shortly.
It was the first time in the history of the competition that a reigning monarch was a no show and while Bonesman, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts and Beverley ‘Little B’ Williams-who placed second and third respectively- had reasons to celebrate it seemed that Shelly G still managed to steal their thunder even in her absence as her no show was the talk of the night.
Efforts to contact the ‘Touch Me’ sensation or her manager Eon Johnson proved to be futile but word out of her camp is that she winged off to the Trinidad & Tobago Carnival. This newspaper has learnt that organizers should not have been too surprised that Shelly G was a no show as she never attended any of the rehearsals with the band, her song came out late, she did not attend the press conference to launch this year’s show- it has been attended by all other winners- nor did she travel to Linden for the semi-finals.
However, organizers yesterday said they were happy with the turnout and the artistes gave patrons some good performances.
Bonesman and Vanilla-who had also won the second place last year – sing for Kross Color Records and while they have something to celebrate their Colleague B 52-who also sings for that label did not place.
Trinidad-based Guyanese Tiele ‘Tele Cruz’ Thorne was 
adjudged best newcomer.
The heavily pregnant Antigua-based Guyanese Tomeeka Thomas failed to match the likes of Trinidadian Faye-Ann Lyon’s heroics when she copped the Trinidadian soca title last year in a similar state of pregnancy. But while Her ‘Balloon’ deflated she did cause patrons some anxious moment when she did a split during her dance moves.
When The Scene spoke with Bonesman a few days before the finals he had suggested the importing of judges as he had said the local judges not only did not receive the requisite training but there has also been favouritism. Well his tune must have now changed. B 52 should be a little disappointed as he had one of the catchiest socas among the group and many favoured him to finally win the crown.
