‘SOCA IN B SQUARE’
The Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) will be including another project in its sponsorship package for Carnival this year to rekindle old traditions in Carnival. It is called "Soca in B Square," and from February 13 to 17, Woodford Square will be the venue for daily concerts featuring the country’s top bands. And as a prelude to those concerts, the project will actually kick off at noon on Friday, February 10, in Shaw Park, Tobago. TSTT is also boasting about its involvement with a first time ever collaboration with TT’s three biggest Soca stars, Machel Montano, Shurwayne Winchester and Bunji Garlin. Ian Joseph, vice president, Mobile Services at TSTT, made these disclosures at the company’s Carnival 2K6 launch at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Invaders Bay on Monday. Joseph said, "Sponsorship for TSTT is about showcasing everything that is great about our country — our creativity, our beautiful people, our care for others, our professionalism and our culture." He added that TSTT will continue to work with the Carnival stakeholders, whom they hope to help recreate the spirit of Carnival. "That is why for Carnival 2006 we say ‘Move with us’ and stake your claim to making TT Carnival the most idyllic celebration," added Joseph. Also included in TSTT’s portfolio of sponsorships are chutney band Dil-E-Nadan and Our Boys Steelband from Tobago. And while TSTT is sharing sponsorship of events such as Chutney Soca Monarch, the National Panorama Semi-Finals and Finals, and Parade of the Bands, the company is title sponsor for the TSTT International Soca and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions, bmobile Brass Festival, the Soca School Tour and the Alternative Concept 4, featuring Machel Montano and Xtatik. Also speaking at the function was Sigler Jack of the National Carnival Commission (NCC). He said that via Act Number 9 of 1991, the NCC will continue to be in the forefront of corporate sponsorship for Carnival to benefit the people of Trinidad and Tobago, but that the Government is the major financier of the festival. Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams was more guarded in what she had to say on sponsorship on the whole, but echoed Jack’s sentiments, stating that Carnival belongs to Trinidad and Tobago. She did however give the assurance that all bands will be participating in Carnival despite earlier reports of a boycott of NCDF member bands. Among those in attendance at the function were Pan Trinbago’s president, Patrick Arnold, TSTT’s CEO Carlos Espinal, PoS Mayor Murchison Brown, promoters Frank Dillon and Ellis Chow Lin On and artistes Bunji Garlin, Faye-Ann Lyons, Kernal Roberts, Patrice Roberts, Machel Montano and George Singh. Montano and Singh will be working together for the first time, when the Chutney Soca Finals comes off on Saturday.
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"‘SOCA IN B SQUARE’"