Uptown Party’ team gives to the juniors

Former Junior Soca Monarch now one of this country’s Soca sensations Hance John contributed EC$7,000 and trophies to the 2024 Junior Soca Monarch competition.
John, a four-time Junior Soca monarch champion between 2006 and 2009 lauded the competition saying that it provided a platform for young and upcoming talent in the Soca arena.
He thanked the Carnival Development Corporation for the years that they have worked with the juniors.
“And for creating a platform for our youngsters,” he said, just like himself that passed through the competition and was now enjoying a level of success, he was now celebrating 21 years in the local music industry.
According to John, he knew that the prize monies in the Ragga and Soca Monarch competitions had increased significantly, but that he hoped to increase his contribution in the future to include something for the young Calypsonians.
Ezzie Roberts, Marketing and Development Officer of the CDC said in his response that it was very interesting to see that John and his team were making such a donation after staging just one event – ‘Uptown Party’ appeared on the Carnival calendar of events for the first time in 2023 Roberts said.
“You don’t see that,” he continued
But the number of events and promoters was increasing every year.
“So, we really appreciate a new promoter, Hance and his team having an event for only the second year, and the event has not even been hosted yet, so this contribution is probably from funds raised from last year,” Roberts contended.
The other point he made was that John himself would have passed through the Junior Soca Monarch competition as a student and had graduated on to the big stage of Soca music, but saw it fit to sponsor the juniors.
“To encourage them because he knows that that is the foundation,” Roberts said.
And for that, the CDC was grateful.