Tens of thousands will this morning take to streets across the island led by the spirit of the Merry Monarch to celebrate Jouvert covered in either oil, mud or paint dancing to soca, steelpan and even the traditional music of tamboo bamboo and biscuit and oils tins.

And the revelry will continue non-stop until midnight tomorrow.

And although when this article goes to print the National Calypso Monarch and the King and Queen of Carnival have not yet been crowned, we do know that the Silver Stars Steel Orchestra is the new reigning National Steel Orchestra, winning the coveted Panorama championship.

Silver Stars, playing ’First in De Line’ composed jointly by Alvin Daniell and the band’s arranger, Edwin Pouchet, beat defending champions Phase II Pan Groove by just one point with a score of 469 points. Phase II founding arranger Len ’Boogsie’ Sharpe smiled as the result that his ’Magic Drum’ had been dusted by the Silver Stars was announced. The result was, however, what the majority of people at the Queen’s Park Savannah had expected.

Another popular outcome was that of the International Soca Monarch competition early Saturday morning. The vast majority of the more than 30,000 people at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium jumped in jubilation when it was revealed that Fay-Ann Lyons had won both the International Power and Groovy Soca Monarch titles.

Lyons had convincingly trounced all her opponents, including her husband, Bunji Garlin, in the Power Soca category, singing ’Meet SuperBlue.’ Bunji, the defending monarch, who placed second, even stated during his performance of ’Clear The Road’ that he was only there to have fun and push Iwer George out of the second position because his wife was definitely the winner. Highlights of Lyons’s performance included an appearance by her father, SuperBlue, and her unborn child ’singing,’ which sent the crowd wild.

As for the Groovy Soca category, Lyons, who sang ’Heavy T’, had some stiff competition in the persons of Benjai who had the entire audience singing along as he performed ’Drunk Again’ and Kerwyn Dubois who brought the people to life when he performed ’2 Days.’

Benjai placed third while Dubois’s position has not yet been released by the competition’s producers. Defending Groovy Monarch Shurwayne Winchester placed second singing ’Make It Yours’ accompanied by British reggae artiste Maxi Priest.

As soon as Lyons was declared Power Soca Monarch people began to declare her the Road March Queen with her smash hit ’Meet SuperBlue.’

Interestingly as of yesterday ’Heavy T’ also began to receive greater rotation on the radio stations and was among the most often played songs on the road for the Kiddies Carnival as well as wherever sound systems were set up at bars and eateries in downtown Port of Spain, Woodbrook and St James.

The possibility of Lyons taking first as well as second place in the Road March race is strong. Machel Montano is also a contender here with his late release of ’Wild Antz’ and his fellow HD Family member, Patrice Roberts is also in the running with ’Sway In The Mas.’ Iwer George too is in the mix with ’Ready’, as well as Destra Garcia with ’Bacchanal’ and one can expect to see Benjai among the top contenders with his infectious ’Drunk Again,’ which should receive heavy play during Jouvert and Last Lap.

As for the Parade of the Bands, Brian Mac- Farlane seems headed towards a successful defence of the Band of the Year title with Africa: Her Glory, Her People, Her Tears.