… the first Guyanese to reach the finals
TERRY Gajraj, ‘Guyana Baboo’, the lone Guyanese in the final top 15 of Trinidad’s International Chutney Competition, yesterday paid a visit to Manniram Prashad, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. Accompanying the singing sensation were popular television personality WR Reaz; promoter Paul Bonar, known as ‘DJ Stress’; and Supertones Band Member, Anant Hansraj.
They met at the Minister’s South Road office in Georgetown, where Prashad extended his ministry’s support and best wishes to the popular musician.  
For the first time in the competition’s history, a Guyanese has reached the finals of the International Chutney Soca Monarch Competition in Trinidad.
Minister Prashad called on all Guyanese to support Gajraj in the international chutney competition slated for this evening at Skinner Park, San Fernando, Trinidad.
He said the ‘Guyana Baboo’ is among 15 finalists looking to capture the title, and he urged all Guyanese to go online and cast their vote in favour of their fellow countryman.
“This is a proud moment for our country – support Terry Gajraj,” the Tourism Minister stated.   
Being the only Guyanese that is still in the 2011 competition from a field of more than 120 entries, the ‘Guyana Baboo’ is proud to represent his country and is hoping to capture the much sought-after title this year.
Fellow Guyanese can give their support as Gajraj puts Guyana on show at this prestigious annual competition by voting online and/or text messages at http://www.simplyvote.net/csm/ or www.ChutneySocaMonarch.com .
Gajraj’s code name is TGA and he pledged that once he wins, he will donate the prize money of TT$2M to charity for children in Guyana and Trinidad.
“The people are the ones who make us stars, and I would love to give back to them,” he stated.  
Gajraj has been performing for over 18 years now, and since his first record, ‘Soca Lambada’, was released in 1989, he has gone on to release over 25 more albums, performing in places like the United States, Canada, England and Spain.
His semi-final performance in the Trinidad competition was a Bollywood spectacle with his dancers and actors, to the song ‘Sumatee’, for which more props and storyline will be added in the finals.
The song which is fast gaining recognition on the local, T&T & North American airwaves was produced by Big Rich Out of Trinidad, with a guest appearance by Trinidad’s ‘Ravi B’ in the song.
The 2011 edition has been the best in the history of the competition, not only at the level of the production of the event, but also at the level of performances delivered by all 41 contestants, giving judges the hard task of having to pick 14 from the pack of 41, while the winner earns a place via the online, international and local text votes.