BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE contention between contestant of the Soca Monarch Competitions and Chairman of the Carnival Committee Noah Mills continues to escalate with a number of artistes indicating their intention of not participate in this evening’s (Dec. 11) Semi-Finals unless Mills is removed.
In recent weeks, the artistes have complained about the way in which the 2015 competition is being conducted under new Carnival Chairman Mills, expressing problems with the band selection, lack of communication and his refusal to listen to their views.
Only yesterday afternoon, after feeling that they had no other recourse, eight artistes held a press conference at Freedom FM 106.5 where they spoke of the burning issues and opened themselves to questions from the media.
Those in attendance were reigning Power Soca Monarch Sugar Bowl, reigning Groovy Soca Monarch Mr. Bagnall, K-Jah, Ladonna of Nevis, Pinocchio, Seekou, Take Over and Mr. Hype.
Both Sugar Bowl and Mr. Bagnall explained that being the reigning kings, they could have opted to sit back and watch the situation play out and simply defend their titles on the night of the Finals. But they noted that they found it necessary to speak out on behalf of the other artistes who were being affected.
“Why we reached this far is because the Chairman, he does not listen…there is a chat and we would ask questions. If he don’t feel the need to answer, he don’t feel the need to respond, he just hit an ignore button and then he just move on, do whatever he wants. So not listening to us is a really, really serious problems. And also…saying things that are not true is one of the biggest things that has really hampered us…”
The artistes claimed that when they signed up for the competition, no copy of the rules was given and that they received it about one month into preparations. They also charged that after recognising certain infractions were being made and even after raising these issues with the Committee, they were ignored.
Conversely, the artistes indicated that Mills has a habit of, whenever it is expedient for him, referring and holding fast to the rules.
Sugar Bowl told the media that the Carnival Chairman is disingenuous and in support of his claim, played a clip on which the Chairman was announcing which artistes had advanced to the Semi-Finals. During the clip, Mills indicated that by virtue of some of the artistes refusing to draw a number, they had withdrawn themselves from the competition.
Mills further stated that he spoke individually with the artistes and they indicated that they are withdrawing from the competition.
Only one of the artistes, Seekou, indicted during that Press Conference that following that incident he wrote and formally withdrew himself from the competition.
Other issues that the group highlighted include:
1. Mills constantly referred to a “constitution” when no such thing exists. What exists is a set of rules;
2. Some of the artistes claim they have been told one thing by the Chairman in one breath, and in another, he declared that word-of-mouth cannot be quoted or relied upon
3. Mr. Bagnall being the Groovy Soca Monarch was not to have been judged during the elimination process, yet he was. He entered to compete in the Power Segment and understands receiving a scoresheet for that segment. But he fails to understand why he also received one for the Groovy Segment when he was not to have been judged;
4. Mills is micromanaging seeing that there is a Chairman of the Soca Competition Committee yet, he either never speaks or is never allowed to speak but Mills speaks on his behalf; and
5. Artistes asked that a 17-year-old who had entered the competition be given a change to remain despite the rules indicating that the minimum age requirement is 18 years. Mills said the rules are the rules and must be followed so the chap had to be disqualified yet he has been named as one of the semifinalists.
The list of grievances continues and most of the artistes present at the press conference declared that in order for the issues to be resolved, Mills would have to step down from his post. They note that they have been raising these and other issues for sometime and their cries seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
While the press conference was still in progress, owner of Freedom and broadcaster Junie Liburd informed that Mills had indicated he was willing to speak with one member of the aggrieved group on the morning of the following day (today).
One of the artistes indicated however that that was too short a window for kinks to be ironed out, seeing that the Semi-Finals is to be held later this evening.
Another message was delivered on behalf of Mills indicating that he could not meet with a representative until the time he stated because he was busy dealing with the Calypso Semi-Finals.
Following the press conference however, SKNVibes understands that the artistes had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister with responsibility for Carnival, the Hon. Shawn K. Richards.
SKNVibes made contact with Mills today to ask if he would be willing to address the issues raised by the specific Soca artistes and he responded in the affirmative, but informed that because he was engaged that would have to take place at another time.
