Montano and Smith defend PoS J'Ouvert King and Queen titles

Richard Montano and Laverne Smith defended their J'Ouvert King and Queen crowns in downtown Port of Spain, delivering sharp political satire and social commentary as Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival Monday kicked off before dawn.

Before sunrise on Carnival Monday, competitors in the J'Ouvert King and Queen competition converged on South Quay, Port of Spain, with towering costumes and elaborate props targeting local politicians, rising taxes, traffic penalties, and world leaders. Richard Montano won the J'Ouvert King title for a second consecutive year with his political portrayal titled 'U-EN-SEE Running D Corn-Tree,' though one source also referenced an earlier portrayal called 'D Pee Pee Not Charging D-COP.' Montano, who resides part of the year in Florida, returned to Trinidad specifically to compete. He raised concerns about declining participation in traditional mas and argued that the current first prize of $2,500 should be raised to approximately $4,000 to help offset production costs. Laverne Smith defended her J'Ouvert Queen crown with a comedic presentation centred on traffic fines and penalties, making her a three-time winner including 2024 and 2025. Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne confirmed that 2025 Carnival attendance surpassed 2024 figures and noted a significant increase in J'Ouvert registrants. Security arrangements included the visible presence of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, Fire Service, and Defence Force, with supporting agencies WASA and T&TEC.

The retention of both J'Ouvert crowns by Montano and Smith underscores the enduring power of traditional mas as a vehicle for political and social commentary in Trinidad and Tobago. However, Montano's observation that participation is shrinking and that prize money fails to cover production costs signals a sustainability challenge for one of Carnival's oldest art forms.

"The current first prize for J'Ouvert King stands at $2,500. Montano argued that raising it to about $4,000 would help offset the cost of materials and production, noting that his own costume exceeded the value of the prize."

— Montano, Smith retain PoS J'Ouvert crowns

Traditional mas remains vital and growing: Alleyne pointed to a significant increase in registrants and confirmed that 2025 Carnival attendance surpassed 2024 figures. He stressed that preserving heritage remains central to the Downtown Carnival Committee's mandate and expressed confidence in continued growth.

Traditional J'Ouvert needs greater financial support to survive: Montano expressed concern that participation in traditional J'Ouvert mas is shrinking. He argued that increasing the first prize from $2,500 to approximately $4,000 would encourage more competitors, noting his own costume exceeded the prize value.

J'Ouvert is a platform for personal empowerment and social commentary: Smith channelled her personal journey as an orphan who returned to sit CXC exams alongside her granddaughter into her winning portrayal. Her use of double entendre and civic satire demonstrated how J'Ouvert empowers ordinary citizens to engage with public discourse through art.

"I am feeling I would be a king until I die."

— Richard Montano, Two-time J'Ouvert King, via Montano, Smith retain PoS J'Ouvert crowns

J'Ouvert is Carnival's conscience — the pre-dawn moment when ordinary Trinbagonians hold power to account with nothing more than creativity, wit, and mud. The back-to-back victories of Montano and Smith are a testament to artistic excellence, but they also expose an uncomfortable truth: when a champion's costume costs more than the prize, the system is asking passion to subsidise tradition.

The Caribbean cannot afford to let J'Ouvert become a museum piece. This is a living, breathing art form that has inspired Carnival movements from Brooklyn to Notting Hill. Mayor Alleyne's report of increased registrants is encouraging, but registrant numbers alone do not guarantee the survival of high-quality traditional mas. If Trinidad and Tobago values J'Ouvert as the cultural cornerstone it claims, the investment must match the rhetoric. Raise the prizes. Fund the artists. The satire they produce is worth far more than $2,500.