Naya makes the soca switch
By Yvonne Webb Trinidad Guardian Thursday 24th January, 2008

“Everybody just want to hold on to their space,
so the youths who are coming into the industry,
brimming with talent and bursting with energy have no where to go.

“We need to bring young people in the game and
move the industry forward,” George who has been
on the soca scene for 14 years recommended.

Just two months after Carnival 2007, soca artiste
Naya George dusted off his stage personna and
switched to business executive Nigel George.

“I have put the soca scene on pause and moved on
to other stuff,” George, a director with
Occupational Health Solutions Ltd, (OSHL), Chaguanas, said in an interview.

The 39-year old soca bard, who, with his band
Invazion, rocked the country with the popular
Trinidad in 2002, his only Road March title to
date, said he is moving aside to make way for the youths.

“It has always been my intention to come into the
soca fraternity for a number of years and move on
and make way for the younger people so the fraternity could blossom.

“And I stick to my word,” he said although
admitting that his name is still being used in
Carnival advertisements as performing with the band.

He said the whole soca industry is suffering,
“because nobody wants to move on.

“Everybody just want to hold on to their space,
so the youths who are coming into the industry,
brimming with talent and bursting with energy have no where to go.

He admitted, “everytime I see somebody on stage I
miss it, but I know it (leaving it behind) is for a reason and purpose.

“I live everyday knowing my intention is a good
one and hope others in the lead follow.”

While he is not certain whether the soca will
draw him back on the stage at some point in time, one thing he is certain of.

“I will never get back into competitions.”

Mr George—the business exec

A United States trained certified professional
collector trainer, (CPCT), George, brother of
defending International Soca Monarch Iwer “The
Boss” George, and music producer Devon George,
said for the moment he is quite contented being the business executive.

“I am on an upward growth. I don’t know where it
will lead me. I am following my lead. This place
has so much opportunities and when they come I
will take them up. If they don’t come I will look
for them, find them and take them up.”

OSHL, which he opened in May with his business
partner Indira Narinesingh, is concentrating on
providing cutting edge services, “to clean up the
work place and ensure workers live a long and healthy life,” he said.

Boasting of clients such as BHP, bpTT, IPHSL,
Methanex among others, George said his blitz on
the soca scene may have opened a few doors for him.

“But a lot of people in this market are not
really aware of the people in the soca industry
and do not identify Naya George with Nigel George.

“It’s two different ball game.

Look I am here tonight and people don’t know who
I am,” he said during the interview at a South Chamber function.

Invazion moves forward

About Invazion, George said he has left it in the
competent hands of band members.

“I am there on a consultative basis, if they need
me they will call and I will be there to help in what ever way I can.”

However, he said the idea of Invazion was always
to get the young people to work as a cohesive unit and move the band forward.

“Because there is a problem among young people working together,” he observed.

“Lots of people have passed through and gone on
to super stardom. Now its time for me to let it
go and let it move on. I feel happy. I have no
regrets doing what I have done,” he said.




Roj (Roger James)

The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com
Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com
Carib Brass Ctn site http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection
Steel Expressions http://clix.to/steelexpressions
Site of the Week: http://www.carifinonline.com
Caribbean Flags: http://www.caribbeanflags.com/scripts/default.asp?idaff=5659
TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt