http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/son-of-moko-jumbie-ace-wins-south-monarch-title-6.2.2244838.72736f4626 *Son of Moko Jumbie ace wins South Monarch title* Three champions, including a newcomer, were crowned during the South Monarch in San Fernando on Thursday night. Jahmarley Bisnath and Allison John won South King and Queen of the Carnival while Kyle “KC” Cowie was crowned South Calypso Monarch during the South Monarch competition at Harris Promenade. Twenty-six-year-old Bisnath’s winning costume, Scarecrow, which he performed on ten-foot-eight-inch stilts, was from the band Pan Mas Traditions. While it was his first time entering the competition, Bisnath had no problem bringing his portrayal to life, as he has been walking on stilts since he was a toddler. Bisnath, the son of Kaisokah Moko Jumbies founder Junior Bisnath, admitted it had been a long time since he had entered a competition. “Competition is something I go into with a lot of vigour. Sometimes it could be a lil helter-skelter, but for me, the energy that I put out there, even though craziness happens, we always reach out there and get it done, and most times we ace it.” Encouraging people who felt passionately about the artform to follow their passion, he said, “It brings a lot of happiness to me personally. When I am on stilts, my mind is clear. My spirit is free. I’m seeing a different perspective than anybody else, and I am taller than anybody else, so it’s a really nice feeling.” Thirty-four-year-old John captured the title for the second consecutive year, and both portrayals were from Kalicharan Carnival. John, who beautifully and masterfully portrayed her costume, The Souvenir Doll, told Guardian Media, “I am excited and happy because entering this, my goal was to restore Carnival in South Trinidad to the former glory it would have had.” Over the years, she said the major mas players, designers and masmen migrated to Port-of-Spain and caused a brain drain in San Fernando Carnival. John, who has been playing mas from the tender age of three, added, “We want South mas to strive, and I’m just happy and joyful about this.” Meanwhile, Cowie said he needed this win as he had been having a tough season. “This add something positive to it, and we ending on the high,” he said. Cowie placed second in the Young King competition, but he did not qualify for Calypso Fiesta, which was disappointing since he had “outstanding” performances in his calypso tent, Klassic Ruso. However, Cowie said, the South Calypso Monarch was close to his heart because many of his close relatives were from south Trinidad, and the only other competition he ever won was the Soca category in the South Monarch in 2015. “I think I am the only person to win both categories in the South Monarch. It feels great. I am humbled by it, and I am humbled by the audience.” Noting that the show started late and there were audio and sound system difficulties, as well as stage challenges, he said he understood it was a work in progress and it’s a new committee, but he was hoping for improvements. “We had a lot of difficulties. I just had to remain focused and go out there and do the job, and eventually, we came out victorious.” His self-composed rendition, Western Town, was about the gun violence in the country. The competition, which kicked off two and a half hours late at 9.30 pm, was officially opened by San Fernando Mayor Robert Parris and concluded sometime after 1 am. Unlike previous times, the results were not announced after the show. *By Sascha Wilson*