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TRINIDAD and Tobago soca star Machel Montano is to be honoured with a Key to the City of Kingston on Sunday evening at the National Stadium.

The event, which will be one of the pivotal moments at the 2023 annual Independence Grand Gala at stadiumy, eventually won the approval of nearly all Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) councillors at a special meeting on Friday at its downtown Kingston office.

The councillors gave full approval to the request from the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and specifically current minister, Olivia "Babsy" Grange, that Montano be honoured, but also used the opportunity to address the issue of approving last-minute requests from government bodies for their approval.

The resolution noted: "Be it resolved that the Key to the City of Kingston be conferred on Mr Machel Jesus Montano, in recognition of his sterling, awesome and iconic career in music, which has positively influenced many adoring fans across the Caribbean and the world, including many Jamaicans who continue to enjoy his enduring legacy."

It was tabled by Government councillor Susan Senior and seconded by councillor Kari Douglas, both of whom were convinced of its approval, especially those who have experienced Montano's local performances.

Source: Jamaicaobserver.com

Who said Jamaicans do not like Soca?

In reply to Slipfeeler

We need to change the lock!

In reply to FanAttick

Why? He is a very talented artist.

Problemjoy will come out of hiding now

Good move. Caribbean people need to stick together.

The muricans and the delusional, supercilious misfits will do all in their power to keep us down.

Machel should get keys to all dem caribbean cities

well done yad

In reply to Slipfeeler

Maverick agrees. Giving the keys to Machel was a rubbish move

In reply to FanAttick

mav riding im big truck

In reply to VIX
Bet you een know dat Machel attended Mona Basic School on the UWI campus as a lil boy

In reply to Chrissy
Oh Rhatid!!! small worl'

In reply to Chrissy

One thing for sure Jamaicans love him as a performer. He had the stadium rocking.

In reply to nitro
World class

In reply to Chrissy

Name me one single “world class” hit song that Montana has in his catalog?

Singing - “get something and wave” and is meaningless drivel

I’m not a fan of Rihanna but to her credit she is a legitimate World Class superstar in music and business

So how come I ent get no keys?

Nonsense crap.

In reply to FanAttick

Not really fair. The genre is not as internationally recognized as others...but for the people who are fans of soca he has been the top performer worldwide for a looong time. Also to be fair...your stereotypical 'get something and wave' comment shows that you need to get out more.

You seem like you looking for mainstream recognition in USA for validation.

I am no MM fan either...but he 'mashes' up the place wherever he goes including the US and Europe. His music is hardly about waving something these days anyway. You probably confuse him with Super Blue back in the day.

In reply to Cheeks

I enjoy listening all genres of music - many of which are not mainstream…I dont need the USA to validate anything …however speaking strictly from a Jamaican perspective - outside of a carnival setting - which is seasonal at best and confined largely to uptowners - the majority of Yardies would not be beating down the door to go watch a Machel performance…I still do not see what he has done to warrant a key to the city of Kingston…..I would give a key to Eddie Grant, Sparrow or a host of other Caribbean artists before even thinking of Montana…

In reply to Cheeks

Well said. I was at the Beres and Romain Vigo concert in BMore last week and when the dj ran soca music and some of Machel's music in between the acts, the (largely Jamaican) crowd was very appreciative and was jumping and waving. He is the King of soca and we need to back all our music, regardless of overall popularity issues and whatnot.

In reply to DukeStreet

What does all that jazz have to do with the key to the city of Kingston?

Thats the issue at hand…

In reply to FanAttick


Point taken ..but unfortunately I think you are ..ahem..generationally biased.

I don't think you are current. Once Machel is doing a concert in the region....a bunch o screaming women show up. Lol. You might surprised at the kind of pull he has with a certain age group. Its probably pretty transient ...as that age group is now moving away from the hardcore party scene..and the GenZ folks won't know him that much. But I assure you..there is a particular age group..I would say people who are now between 30 and 50...who Machel will always get into a show/ fete/ concert.

Its like Dr J not having any current players in his top 10 NBA team.

I am not getting into the merits and de-merits of the key to the city. I was just responding to whether Machel can be considered world class or not. In the genre of soca..he certainly is.

In reply to Cheeks

I dont disagree that I may be generationally biased …however in the same way you wouldn’t give your car or house keys to your 10 year old juvenile. - you should based your decisions on IMPACT..who has made a meaningful impact on the broadest cross-section of society..not who is popular among the Gen Z population…

I dont think Machel has made an Impact worthy of the symbolism of granting a key to the city of Kingston on Jamaica’s Independence Day to boot!

This decision was naked political calculation by a government desperate to maintain relevance with the younger voters….the JLP government has traditionally been unpopular with older voters..Furthermore the JLP rely heavily on the uptown voters who are more likely to support Montana’s brand of music…thats why they gave the key to Montano instead of say Sparrow or another more deserving artist of older vintage

They also didn’t give the recognition to a dancehall or reggae artist because that is poor people music - and those poorer masses tend to lean more to the side of the Comrades..