Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts (CPF) is today holding the nation’s soca artistes who performed in its Carnival 2009 competitions to ransom, by withholding their cash prizes until they sign over a percentage to the organisation. In a letter dated March 20, and issued by CPF executive president Gregory Fernandez, contestants in the bmobile International Soca Monarch Competition and the National Lotteries Classic Groovy Monarch have been told they would have no access to their cash awards until they meet the organisation’s demands.

These artistes, according to Fernandez, were required to sign a new CPF contract which commits them to give five per cent of their winnings back to the foundation, and in the case of Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez, the document obligates her to defend her crown. Former Power monarchs Bunji Garlin and Shurwayne Winchester, Hunter and Nadia Batson are the artistes who have gone public with the matter. They said the clause in the revised contract was new to them. Further, they don’t know where the money would be going since the competition benefits from extensive sponsorship.

Sunday Guardian learnt that Kerwyn DuBois and Blaxx, of Roy Cape All Stars, who did not sign the contract, had cheques cut in their names for Friday’s prize-distribution ceremony held at the Ballroom of the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre in St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain. However, the money was deducted without their consent, a source revealed. Many local contestants boycotted the awards.

Fernandez, in the letter, said: “For this year’s competition we have taken deliberate steps to advise participating soca artistes of the conditions of participation. Due to the fact that the agreement has not been signed to this date by you or your agent, we have not requested that the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Genders Affairs prepare a cheque for the Prize Distribution and Awards Ceremony. “The money due to you is currently lodged with the relevant ministry and will only be released to you on my instructions pending the signing of the contract.”

There was, however, a variation in the letter drafted to Lyons-Alvarez. It read: “Further, the unlicensed vehicle due to you is lodged at Toyota Ltd, until the criteria stated above is met.” Soca entertainers were engaged in tele-conferencing all yesterday and firmly believe that CPF is engaging in deception. Batson’s lawyer Keron James has instructed her not to accept or sign any document coming out of CPF’s office, while her fraternity brothers and sisters declare they have no other choice but to seek legal recourse in the matter.

Speaking outside the Cascadia Hotel Friday, a visibly upset Lyons-Alvarez told Sunday Guardian she knew nothing about a contract that requires her to share her prize with the show’s producer, but William Munro, chairman of CPF, said while his organisation held no discussion with Lyons-Alvarez, they spoke to her manager Ian Pantin. Efforts to reach Pantin yesterday proved futile. Around 11.30 pm Friday, Lyons-Alvarez stormed over to Munro with the letters to “give him back he thing.”

After a 45-minute discussion between herself, Munro, Bunji Garlin and Fernandez, Lyons-Alvarez said: “They want us to meet again this week. Let’s wait and see what happens.” Minutes later, Munro expressed surprise by Lyon-Alvarez’s reaction. In his view, all she had to do was sign like her husband did last year. “Last year, she paid her five per cent.”

Bunji responds
Interviewed, Bunji Garlin said: “They hijacked my five per cent last year. Munro told each entertainer that the other had agreed to the deduction. I didn’t want to look like a fool, so I let issues alone. “Everybody realised last year we get take. “Why after artistes work so hard and win you want a kick-back?” he asked. “Don’t drop those bombs on us!”

Munro stays his ground
“They dare not go in the public with that,” said Munro. “All they have to do is sign the contract...the contract to defend and give five per cent (of the earnings), that’s all.” Munro said artistes were allowed to perform on final night, for practical reasons, even though they had not signed the contract.