More bacchanal is brewing in the carnival industry as the T&T Carnival Bands Association (TTCBA) has signalled its intention to sue Culture Minister Dr Lincoln Douglas for his alleged failure to uphold the National Carnival Commission Act.
The TTCBA is a breakaway faction of the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) but has attracted more members under its umbrella than the NCBA and as such claims recognition as the body most representative of carnival bands under the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Act 9 Section 5 (1) (b). The TTCBA, despite representing the majority of bands, has been denied a seat on the NCC board of commissioners, whereas the NCBA retains its position on the NCC board.
The TTCBA has retained former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and junior attorney Ronnie Bissessar who sent a pre-action protocol letter to Douglas on August 28, 2014. The letter gives Douglas two weeks to respond.
The six-page pre-action protocol letter instructed Douglas that in keeping with the guidelines of Section 5 (1) (b) of the NCC Act, he must remove the head of the NCBA as a Commissioner on the NCC board as the NCBA no longer represents the majority of the carnival bands in the country. The TTCBA claims to have as many as 120 carnival bands among its membership, which includes most of the bands that cross the stage for judging on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
“I am to therefore call upon you to provide a written undertaking within fourteen (14) days of the date hereof that you will terminate the appointment of David Lopez as a Commissioner of the Board upon the expiration of his two (2) year appointment; and you will appoint a representative of the TTCBA as a Commissioner of the Board for a period of two (2) years in accordance with section 5(1)(b) of the Act,” the letter states.
This will further exacerbate the tensions between the TTCBA and the NCBA in the battle for dominance of Carnival. Last year, the TTCBA staged a protest demonstration to highlight inadequacies and a lack of transparency in the running of Carnival. They met with and garnered support from then Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing and Douglas.
Since that time, however, and despite its being recognised and invited to Carnival planning sessions regarding route changes and multi-route proposals, the TTCBA and its membership believe they continue to be sidelined by the NCC. This, the Sunday Guardian learned, is the crux of the issue between the TTCBA and the NCBA.
“In the event that I do not receive the written undertaking (whether in the form requested or at all) I am constrained by my instructions to file on behalf of the TTCBA an application to the High Court for such or any remedy or relief that may be necessary to protect the TTCBA’s interest. Further, I reserve the right to supplement or amplify these grounds where necessary,” the letter stated.
Though several attempts to reach Douglas were unsuccessful, the Sunday Guardian learned that he has since sought legal advice on the matter.