Antigua and Barbuda will be proudly represented by Peetron and Enoch Thomas in the forthcoming International Calypso Fusion Project, organized by Touched by an Angel, a distinguished gospel promotion organization based in Jamaica and New York. The project is scheduled for release later this year.


Enoch Thomas, winner of the inaugural season of Praise Break Antigua & Barbuda, brings his exceptional vocal talent and dynamic stage presence to this prestigious collaboration. Joining him is Peetron, acclaimed Singer, Calypsonian, and Humanitarian, recognized for his dedication to advancing Antigua’s cultural and musical heritage.

​Both artists are committed to making Antigua and Barbuda exceptionally proud through their contributions to this project. Peetron expressed sincere gratitude for the opportunity and anticipates the project’s success will significantly elevate Antigua’s musical presence on the international stage, particularly through the rich tradition of calypso.

This initiative represents a vibrant fusion of calypso and gospel music, showcasing the distinctive sound and talent of the Caribbean to a global audience. We encourage everyone to follow the journey of Peetron and Enoch Thomas as they bring the spirit and culture of Antigua and Barbuda to the world.
~PMI Secretariat 

​By J. M. Harrigan
July 9, 2025 | St. John’s, Antigua

In the midst of public uproar surrounding the 2025 Soca Monarch Quarterfinals, Tamisha “Tammy” Roberts, Secretary of the National Soca Fraternity (NSF), has stepped forward to clarify her role and set the record straight following statements made by artist Kid Fresh.

The controversy centers on the decision to have Kid Fresh privately judged due to travel constraints—an action many artists saw as unfair. Roberts, in a candid statement, explained that while she had spoken with Kid Fresh prior to the competition, she was never officially updated on any resolution and had no authority to make decisions independently.

“As the Secretary of the NSF, I facilitate communication on behalf of the board. No single person has the power to make executive decisions,” Roberts emphasized. “Anyone who understands how a board functions knows that.”

According to Roberts, after being informed by Kid Fresh about his situation, she immediately reached out—on a personal level—to key individuals including Denise Francis, Petley, Lisa, and Khan, to inquire if anything could be done.

“I said to him, ‘I will see what can be done.’ I followed up immediately. The last update I received was, ‘They’ll get back to me.’ No one ever did—neither them, nor Kid Fresh,” she explained. “That told me nothing was finalized.”

Roberts made it clear that her involvement was informal and not under her official NSF capacity. Ultimately, the Festivals Commission made a unilateral decision, failing to notify either the NSF board or Roberts herself.

Tensions peaked on Wednesday, July 2, when during the live show, the MC announced that Kid Fresh and Natural Rampler had been privately judged prior to the Quarterfinals. The move ignited strong backlash from fellow artists and industry insiders.

“From that moment, our phones started ringing,” Roberts recalled. “Artists were demanding answers, and rightly so. As a board, our priority is fairness and transparency for all 87 of our members.”

The NSF executive board, made up of 11 elected members, held an urgent meeting and then engaged in dialogue with the Commission, which resulted in a resolution and a subsequent press release from the Commission.

Roberts also expressed frustration that the NSF had not been consulted beforehand, stating they could have recommended a more inclusive alternative.

“Had we been informed early, we might have suggested that Kid Fresh perform his Jumpy song during the Groovy Quarterfinals on July 1st. He was present in person that night. He could have been slotted last after the Groovy performances,” she said, pointing to precedents like Krokus, who had been afforded similar accommodations for the past three years due to national duties.

Addressing public perception directly, Roberts reaffirmed her impartiality and dedication to fairness.

“I have no personal issues with any artist, including Kid Fresh. I did my best to look out for him. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again — my actions were in his best interest,” she said. “That was also stated publicly in the National Soca Fraternity group.”

Roberts concluded with a call for unity within the creative community.

“With such a large and passionate group of Soca contributors in Antigua and Barbuda, we must remain grounded in integrity, openness, and collective responsibility,” she said. “Love and light to everyone.”

The National Soca Fraternity wishes to formally address a matter of grave concern regarding the recently concluded Soca Monarch Quarterfinals preliminaries.

On the final night of the Quarterfinals, it was publicly announced from the stage by the MC that a decision had been made by the Festivals Commission to have two artists privately judged in an enclosed and undisclosed location, in front of a private panel of judges and a private audience. This decision was taken prior to the official judging of both Groovy and Jumpy Quarterfinals categories.

We are aware that in past years, requests from several artists to be adjudicated earlier — due to travel arrangements and other unavoidable circumstances — were declined on multiple occasions, ultimately resulting in those artists being unable to participate in their intended categories.

It is critical to note that performing in an enclosed, empty space is vastly different from performing on an open stage before a live audience, with the full technical setup including stage equipment, speakers, monitors, and crowd interaction. These differences directly impact the sound, energy, and overall performance experience, putting the artists who followed the established protocol at a significant and unfair disadvantage.

The National Soca Fraternity, along with other participating artists, was not notified or consulted about this decision prior to the private judging. Such a decision undermines the integrity of the competition, which is intended to provide a fair and level playing field for all contestants. It must be emphasized that other artists who arrived late or were unable to perform on the scheduled dates were disqualified, in strict adherence to the rules.

Prior to the competition, a number-picking process was conducted, and all artists were made aware of their designated performance dates. Any previous miscommunications regarding dates were addressed and resolved well in advance. Both artists in question were already aware of their unavailability for the scheduled dates but were still offered the opportunity to perform ahead of the preliminaries.

Following the announcement on July 2nd, the National Soca Fraternity immediately engaged the Festivals Commission and was redirected to the Judges Committee. Both bodies indicated that the decision was taken to account for prior miscommunication. Despite numerous efforts made between the evening of July 2nd and throughout July 3rd to express the deep concerns of the artist community, these efforts were dismissed. The response given was that, should the Fraternity not accept the decision, the results will remain unchanged.

The National Soca Fraternity made every effort to resolve this matter amicably and in good faith. However, this decision fails to respect and honor the artists who participated under the established rules and those who, in fairness, did not progress to the semifinals.

It is important to emphasize that this statement is in no way a personal attack on the two artists involved. We hold the highest respect for their talent, dedication, and contributions to the art form. Our concern lies solely with the manner in which this decision was made and executed and not the artists themselves.

We stand firmly against this unprecedented and unjust decision and call for immediate corrective action to uphold the fairness, integrity, and spirit of the Soca Monarch competition.

We remain committed to supporting and protecting the interests of all soca artists and will continue to advocate for a transparent and equitable process in all future events.

~National Soca Fraternity of Antigua & Barbuda ​