After a high energy performance, Orlando “Bonesman” Johashen, beat eight   others for the $1M prize to become the new Carib Soca Monarch last Saturday at the National Park.
Johashen, from Tempe Village in Berbice, thrilled the smaller than expected but very appreciative crowd with his patriotic performance of “Is We Own”. Bonesman wearing a grass skirt, used stilts, fireworks, flame throwers, exciting back up dancers and other props to put on the ultimate performance.
Second place winner, Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts,   took the $500,000 prize for her performance of “High”, in a presentation that included explosions of confetti and fireworks and featured dancers dressed in carnival costumes, who arrived on forklifts.
Third place winner, Barbara “Lady Barbara” Nedd, delivered her piece “I Want a Man”, with stimulating back-up dancing, and earned herself $250,000 for her efforts.
Trinidad-based Guyanese, Tiele “Tele Cruz” Thorne, who performed “Material Things”, won the “Best Newcomer” prize of   $100,000 dollars.
Notable performances were also  given by Tomeka Thomas  who performed  “Balloon”,  Wilbur “B52” Levans with “Carrying On”  Jamaica-based  Guyanese “Pierre Da Silva” with ‘Mad, Mad, Mad”,  Jackie Hanover with “Festival Time and Beverly  “Little B”  Williams with “Back Wine Time”.
Shellon ‘Shelly G’ Garraway, the winner of last year’s Carib Soca Monarch crown, did not show up to defend her title.