IRAWMA DRAMA!!!!!!!!!! Plus check out some winners inside….

The IRAWMA which is the brainchild of crook Jamaican- American events/show promoter Ephraim Martin held its 30th Awards show in Trinidad this weekend.

The 2011 International Reggae and World Music Awards on Saturday at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) was hyped to be full of festivities for the big “Indian Arrival Day” weekend in Trinidad.

Let’s talk about some of the good news:

If it wasn’t for hosts Shaggy, Tony Rebel and Deniece Williams, it would have been a very dry and flat affair!

Reigning National Road March Champion and International Power Soca Monarch Machel Montano who was nominated for 9 awards copped 5 statues.

Here are a few of the winners:

Best Caribbean Entertainer, Best Male Soca/Calypso Entertainer, Best Soca Band, Most Outstanding Stage Personality and the Award of Honour – Machel Montano

First ever Chutney Music Award and Best Chutney Entertainer- Rikki Jai

Best Chutney Band Award – Dil-e-Nadan

Best Steelband Award – The Silver Stars Steel Orchestra

Songwriter of the Year – Kernel Roberts

Awards of Honour – Robert Amar and Dennis “Sprangalang” Hall

Promoter of the Year – Roy Maharaj

2011 Female International Rapper/DJ  – Macka Diamond

IRAWMA Hall of Fame – Winston “Gypsy” Peter

And the joke of the evening ….Most Improved/Comeback Entertainer – Iwer George (Why did they do my boy that? LOL)

Now Sunday was the heavily publicized and hyped “Chutney-Soca meets Reggae” Concert. Mr. Martin took his antics from the US to Trinidad, however, Trinidadians was not falling for the act.

“The turnout for the event was poor with roughly 200 people in the general admission area, about 50 in VIP and another 50 or so in VVIP. Patrons paid between $200 and $900 for tickets. They will be receiving no refunds because when they arrived their tickets were taken and placed in boxes without being ripped.”

It is also noted in The Trinidad Express article by Wayne Bowman that the organizer of the event – Ephraim Martin, wanted the artistes to perform for FREE!!!!! Buh wah de… Dis man mad!

Beenie Man was a no show. Shaggy no show. Jah Cure another no show! Queen Ifrica, Taurus Riley, Jah Cure, Gramps Morgan, Rayvon, Machel Montano, Blaxx, Buffy and the Roy Cape All Stars who were advertised to perform, did not….why? Because the organizer came to Trinidad and tried to “pull wool” over the artistes and the locals eyes. Whatever happened to the big sponsorships from bmobile, ANGOSTURA, Hyatt Trinidad, etc??? i guess it wasn’t as organized as they claimed.

Anyhoo….NAPA, the venue itself looked sexy!!!!

I’m sorry for the people that flew from NY and all over the Caribbean just for the concert that never happened!

Congrats to the winners…. I guess!

Read more HERE

Pictures courtesy: ANISTO ALVES