With Carnival 2007 just
around the corner the Grenada Steelband Association has written to
the Minister of Culture expressing their concern over
approximately EC$113,000 in Carnival 2006 prize money still
outstanding to the steelbands.
The Grenada
Steelband Association is appealing to the Minister of Culture to
ensure that the outstanding prize money is paid by 31st
May 2007.
Speaking on
behalf of the Steelband Association, David Seales said that it was
critical that the outstanding prize monies be paid by the date
indicated as many bands were depending on this payment to assist
in the preparation of their orchestras for Carnival 2007. In some
cases he said, some bands were still in a position where they
could not cover all their Carnival 2006 debts due to the non
receipt of their prize monies. This he said was also an
embarrassing situation which has had a very negative effect on the
affected bands’ credit worthiness and their reputations. To avoid
this situation repeating, he said that the Steelband Association
will seek to have a written contract in place with regards to "our
participation in Carnival 2007 activities."
“The Steelband
Association has been patient for a very long time, but our
patience has run out and we are now asking that the outstanding
$113,000.00 be paid in full to the Steel Orchestras. Failure to
settle this outstanding obligation will greatly impact our
members’ ability to properly prepare for and participate in
Carnival 2007 and in particular Panorama 2007."
From the news desk of the
Grenada Steelband Association