Soca Monarch Tian Winter has responded to Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s criticism of artists competing with songs recorded in previous years, insisting that his selections complied with the competition’s rules.

In a social media post Sunday, Winter listed four songs he released for Antigua’s Carnival 2026: “Want Um,” “Wait So Long,” “Beat It” and “Single Pan Di Road.”

Winter said all four could have been entered in the Soca Monarch competition but that he instead selected songs he believed had greater competitive impact.

“Based on the rules I saw it fit to use the songs that had more competition sting,” Winter wrote. “Be reminded that the Soca Monarch competition is governed by rules and regulations, so don’t blame me for simply using said rules and regulations.”

His response followed Browne’s declaration that artists should not win the Soca Monarch title using previously recorded songs. The prime minister specifically questioned Winter’s entry, which was described during the Browne and Browne Show as a modified version of an older song.

Browne called for the rules to be changed, arguing that the annual competition should reward artists who produce new music for the current Carnival season.

Winter ended his response with an apparent swipe at the prime minister’s own involvement in music.

“People whose music career is grounded in AI lyrics and melody should be quiet,” he wrote. “One Love.”

This is what PM Browne said earlier:

Source: Antigua News Room People Whose Music Career Is Grounded in AI Should Be Quiet’: Tian Winter Responds to PM Browne.