There is yet another controversy surrounding this country’s participation in the Miss Universe competition.
In September, Martrecia Alleyne sued the United States-based Miss Universe Organisation and former local franchise holder Jenny Douglas in her bid to represent this country in this year’s pageant, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 17.
Alleyne, who was the runner-up in last year’s local qualification pageant, was offered the opportunity to participate in this year’s competition following the controversy involving last year’s delegate Yvonne Clarke.
In October last year, Clarke was disqualified by Douglas before being eventually reinstated after threatening a lawsuit.
Alleyne was given the opportunity to participate in this year’s competition, as she had spent a considerable amount of time and effort in obtaining sponsors before she was informed that Clarke had resolved her dispute with Douglas.
Her preparations included an endorsement deal and charity work in conjunction with the Children’s Authority and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Douglas was eventually stripped of the franchise and Alleyne was informed that the organisation could not honour her nomination.
But Alleyne had applied for an injunction stopping the international organisation, formerly owned by US President Donald Trump, from selecting a replacement.
When the case came up for hearing before Justice Frank Seepersad at the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain yesterday morning Seepersad dismissed the injunction application, as he stated that he was not prepared to injunct the international organisation.
However, Seepersad suggested that Alleyne may have a cause of action against Douglas for breach of contract and that financial compensation may be more suitable than seeking to compel the organisation to include Alleyne.
Alleyne’s lawyer Josiah Soo Hon rejected that suggestion though, as he pointed out that he was currently in negotiations with the organisation to amicably resolve the claim.
Seepersad expressed hope that the negotiations would be successful and agreed to adjourn the substantive case until they were completed.
As registration and preparation for the competition is scheduled to start today Alleyne has a limited time to resolve the dispute, otherwise T&T may not have a representative.
T&T has copped the title twice in the competition’s over 60-year history, first in 1977 with Janelle Commissiong and again in 1998 with Wendy Fitzwilliam. The competition was held in Trinidad in 1999 and was won by Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana.