With Carnival season coming around the corner, many partygoers are hoping for the return of soca star Machel Montano on stage.

But Montano says he is still contemplating his return to the spotlight during the 2011 season.

I am coming to realise when I focus on what I have to do, its hard to do Carnival and do that at the same time, he told Newsday yesterday, just after wrapping up the taping of a b-mobile ad on location on Independence Square. 

Montano was referring to his continuous efforts to spread soca music on a global level. He said he has been talking to international producers. 

The process is going to take a while but I have made progress but it will take many, many years, he said. Its difficult for me to half step. I cant do Carnival half way. His last full-fledged Carnival season was in 2009 and his appearance at the party recently hosted by Angostura Ltd at Queens Park Oval may have hinted his return to the spotlight. 

But Montano said if he plans to take on Carnival next year, his appearances will be selective.

He was also in praise of Government for its policy on culture. He said over the last two weeks presentations were made on his behalf to the Prime Minister, Minister of Sports Anil Roberts, Minister of Multi-culturalism Winston Peters and Minister of Works Jack Warner. 

I got favourable response. There is light in the tunnel, he said. 

He said one of the topics was the use of the Hasley Crawford Stadium as a cultural venue for shows like his as well as the International Soca Monarch finals. 

He said last years decision not to use stadium as a venue for the latter event was a retrograde step, keeping in mind that Wembley Stadium in England and the SuperBowl stadiums in the United States are also used for entertainment.