The 5th edition of Tobago Carnival will introduce its first Road March title competition.
The announcement was made by Secretary of Tourism, Antiquities and Creative Industries Zorisha Hackett at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Only Tobago artistes featured in the Soca Titans competition will be eligible to contend for the title.
The initiative aims to provide a greater platform for Tobago’s artistes.
“Tobago has solid, solid, solid music, and our artistes continue to grow from strength to strength and so we are introducing that competition this year. The Division of Tourism and Antiquities and Creative Industries will be this year’s title sponsor.”
For its inaugural year, the Road March title will carry a prize of TT$75,000.
Secretary Hackett added that the Division will be calling on the private sector for sponsorship to increase the prize money.
Meanwhile, mas bands have committed to increasing the number of Tobago songs played on the road during J’Ouvert and mas parades.
“We have three specific zones that, once you enter that zone, only Tobago content.”
The Tobago Promoters Association also announced that its members will include Tobago artistes in the line-ups of performers for events and fetes throughout the Carnival season.