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

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