Contact:

Dwayne Mapp

Al-Hart P.R. Inc.

Tel: +1 246 426-8936

alhart@sunbeach.net

DIGICEL CUSTOMERS TO CHOOSE PEOPLE’S MONARCH 2011

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 – (Bridgetown, Barbados): Digicel customers will again decide which Crop Over artiste takes home the coveted People’s Monarch title and a cash prize of $25 000 as the mobile telecommunications service provider continues its sponsorship of Starcom Network Inc.’s People’s Monarch competition for Crop Over 2011.

This will mark the seventh year Digicel is supporting the annual Crop Over voting competition, which runs from Monday, July 18 to Friday, July 29, this year.

Alex Tasker, Digicel’s commercial director, noted that the company was pleased to continue its involvement with the competition which generates significant interest each year and forms part of the company’s overall Crop Over contribution.

“It is very simple. Digicel customers are the judges. If they like a song that has been entered in the competition, they vote for it via text message to short code ‘8884’. The tune with the most text votes advances to the next round until the competition reaches the finals and the artiste who receives the most votes in the final round wins the competition.

“Over the years the response has been overwhelming and we expect this year to be no different. Based on the quality music we have heard for the festival, we are sure this year’s competition will be keenly contested and it is all up to our customers to decide who will be their monarch for 2011,” Tasker said.

Commenting on the competition, Ronnie Clarke, Starcom Network’s program manager, stated:  "Andy Williams meant Christmas when he sang "It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year”.  However, that was until the People's Monarch came on the scene in Crop Over 2003, with Timmy winning the first title.

“Since then, Statement, Contone, Captain Sawyer, Mr Dale (twice) and Edwin (twice) have copped top honours. Cars, cash and other prizes have been awarded in the past and 2011 is no exception - $25,000 in cash and the winner takes all.

“Lil' Rick, Rupee, Mr. Dale, Stiffy, RPB, Mikey, Biggie Irie and Adrian Clarke are in the frame this year. Thanks to Digicel the People's Monarch is chosen by the people. Text votes determine the outcome... simple. So many possibilities but there will only be one winner. At Starcom Network, we are excited and looking forward to Friday July 29, 2011, when the announcement is made and The People's Monarch 2011 is crowned."

Previous People’s Monarchs are:

2003: Timmy- ‘Bumpa Catch A Fire’

2004: Statement – ‘If I Can't Be With You’

2005: Captain Sawyer – ‘Big Fat & Thick’

2006: Contone – ‘My Car Brek Down’

2007: Mr Dale – ‘Soca Junkie’

2008: Edwin – ‘Nah Missing Me’

2009: Edwin – ‘Middle Uh De Road’

2010: Mr. Dale – ‘Drop It’

ENDS  

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP

After ten years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has 11.5 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti and Papua New Guinea which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

In 2004, Digicel developed Digicel Rising Stars – an annual talent show to support aspiring young music artists in the Caribbean. The show has spanned the Eastern Caribbean, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago ranking as one of the top-rated shows.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and its markets comprise: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barts in the Caribbean.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com  for more information.