Savita Singh has made history as the first woman to be crowned Chutney Soca Monarch (CSM) after a heated final at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on Sunday night. The milestone, however, was met with sharp critique from some contestants and fans, who argued that the verdict should reflect more than a single performance or popularity.
“This has nothing to do with envying women,” Ramparasad said, insisting that competitors had invested significant money and talent and deserved a fair outcome.
Responding to the criticism, Southex CEO George Singh Jr. said the wildcard had previously featured in the competition, selected by producers, and noted that Singh had performed in the semifinals to qualify for the finals. He emphasized that the contest was judged on performance on the night, not solely on song popularity.
“Big songs sometimes do not win competitions. It is the performance on the night. There are criteria that we use to judge competitions, and judges follow the criteria. We had nine judges, and every judge had Savita first on the night. I think that was clear.”
Singh Jr. expressed pleasure with the finals’ outcome, describing the results as women finally breaking the glass ceiling in the genre. Singh became the first female winner in the competition’s 31-year history.
“I think the show was really excellent; the presentations were over the top. I know it caused some delays because people’s presentations were very elaborate, and the setup time took a little while. That is something we definitely have to look at in 2027, considering that it is a live TV show, but all in all, we are very pleased with the show,” he said.
Singh Jr. also noted that the event drew one of the biggest crowds in years. Several changes had been made to the format, including the first-ever semifinals in Port-of-Spain at Flava Village and the introduction of an in-person screening at GM Labs. Despite skepticism about hosting the finals on a Sunday, the turnout proved successful, and the format is expected to continue.
He described CSM as an important reflection of Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural identity, blending Afro- and Indo-Trinidadian influences into a unique musical genre that has grown across the Caribbean and internationally since its first show 31 years ago at Skinner Park.
“Overall, I think the show was a great success. We are looking forward now to 2027 and taking this a step forward,” he said.
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