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January 20, 2006 - Terry Joseph (Trinidad Express)


National Carnival Commission (NCC) chairman Kenny de Silva has scotched a report that the NCC is demanding a $50,000 bond from each large-band leader as a safeguard against breaking parade route regulations as nothing but rumour.

The idea came from one arm of the mas community and had to do with a larger plan designed to ease congestion at the Queen's Park Savannah venue on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It posited that leaders of large bands should deposit the sum, which would only be refundable if they conformed to the parade regulations

"I don't know where those media houses that attributed the statement to the NCC Board or its chairman got their inspiration but it never came from us," de Silva said. "While we fully understand that people will construe most statements about the festival as having our signature and we quietly take a lot of blows for things said by others, this one is highly contentious so we feel a need to publicly clear the air.

"When the genesis of that concept surfaced, I am on record as saying we couldn't hope to implement such a plan, which is the same line I took with another tandem idea regarding bands which are expressly not interested in the competition, suggesting that they should not be allowed to cross the savannah stage or appear at other major competition venues.

Thanks for posting this Fantasy.


You know how many emails I got about this bull shyte rumor?!? I fed up tell people that it was not true, but still the emails (and phone calls) kept coming... from Miss Concerned Masquerader to Miss I-Doh-Know-Yuh-But-Ah-Got-A-Lot-To-Say-On-De-Subject-Of-Why-Tribe-Not-Crossing-The-Savannah-Stage.

Well I'm glad Kenny finally decided to make a statement - I harassed his office enough times, cause I was tired of hearing from Miss Concerned Masquerader and her cohorts.

Is only so many times, and so many ways, you could tell people something is just a rumor. After that, sorry to say, but I does tune dem out.

I find rumours amusing...and the people that take them and run with them even moreso...

But I am glad it has been cleared up officially...