Kendra to return 'insulting' $5,000
Ariti Jankie South Bureau
Trinidad Express
Tuesday, March 17th 2009
The $5,000 cheque given by the Culture Ministry to the Hindu Prachaar Kendra in support of this year's Pichakaaree celebrations is an insult, and will be returned.
Kendra officials said yesterday that the State funding for their organization moved from $75,000 in 2007 to $60,000 last year. And this year, the $5,000 payout was scandalous.
Communications officer with the Ministry of Culture, Aleem Khan, said yesterday he would investigate the complaint of the Kendra.
Geeta Vahini, who took over management of the organisation, said it spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce the festival each year.
The festival, which forms part of the Hindu spring festival of Holi or Phagwa, entered its 18th year and was held at Divali Nagar, Chaguanas, on Saturday from 6 p.m.
Ravi Ji was applauded when he announced that the cheque would be returned. He later walked the aisles with a begging bag and collected a total of $4,000-plus.
He said the Kendra was trying to reason with Government to have the sum adjusted.
Geeta said returning the cheque was a form of protest.
"The contestants are Trinidadians and the celebrations serve to bring out the talent of the people, foster community bonding and encourage creativity among the youths of the nation," she said.
She called on Government to provide an explanation for the drastic cut. Geeta said the contestants had been informed that there would be very little or no prize money this year.
"No one withdrew from the competition based on the lack of prize money," she said, adding that the support and encouragement that came from the people inspired the Kendra to continue its work despite the severe shortage of funds.
Nisha Kamaldai Ramkissoon, a six-time entrant of Caparo, won the contest from ten finalists, including five-time winner, Jagdeo Phagoo, and three-time winner, Mohip Poonwassie.
Fay-Ann to receive full $1 million first prize
Kristy Ramnarine kramnarine@trinidadexpress.com
Trinidad Express
Sunday, March 15th 2009
Soca Queen Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez will be receiving her million-dollar first-place prize for winning the 2009 International Soca Monarch competition after all.
Caribbean Prestige Foundation executive president Gregory Fernandez said yesterday that the full amount of the prizemoney will be presented to Lyons-Alvarez during Friday's prize-giving ceremony.
"We had a meeting with the minister today (yesterday), and we resolved the issue," he said.
"We apologise for any embarrassment that has been caused by issuing the press release. The minister indicated to us that the $750,000 was a recommendation in light of the financial crisis, but if we had committed to $1,000,000, we could go ahead and make the payment."
In a letter dated March 5, sent to Lyons-Alvarez, Fernandez had written:
"We write to the statement made by the Honourable Marlene McDonald of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs that the first prize of the International Soca Monarch will be to the value of $750,000 and not $1,000,000, due to the economic downturn in the country.
"We regrettably wish to advise that the ministry, if responsible for the payment of the prizemoney as such, the organisation has no option but to comply with the minister's position as failure to do so will jeopardise the payment of the prize money which is due to you. All other prizemoney due to you remains the same."
Lyons-Alvarez will also receive the first-place prize of $150,000 for the Groovy Soca Monarch and $50,000 for the People's Choice.
The prize-giving ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, St Ann's, at 7.45 p.m.
Comments