By Onika James
Thursday, March 26 2009
newsday.co.tt

THE Caribbean Prestige Foundation (CPF) yesterday accused soca stars Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez and his wife Fay-Ann Lyons-Alverez of “making inaccurate and disparaging comments about CPF, both locally and abroad.”

In a media statement, CPF Executive President Gregory Fernandez said: “Following the prize-giving function on March 20, we had discussions with Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez and Ian Alvarez and we all decided to meet early this week, to resolve the matter.”

However, he said, the couple chose to go the press with what he termed “inaccurate” and “disparaging” comments.

Fernandez recalled that the contention arose when Lyons-Alvarez, who won both the Groovy and Soca Monarch titles learnt she would be required to pay five percent of her winnings for administration fees. She refused and deemed it “unfair”. Fernandez said the clause was part of a contract signed by 16 of the 23 artistes, before the show.

Yesterday, he declared, “clauses containing these deductions were included in the 2008 and 2009 contracts. All artistes or their management were made aware, and given the contract on the day of the draw for positions at the finals.”

Sixteen of the 23 artistes who participated signed, with another two who were abroad, confirming that they will sign. In 2008 these deductions were agreed to and paid from the artistes’ purse, including Ian Alvarez, and Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez,” he said.

However, in an almost immediate response, Ian Pantin, the Alvarez’ manager expressed disgust at the situation. “This statement by Mr Fernandez is misleading and disingenuous to say the least. The problem is that it tells only half the story and everyone knows half the story is much more dangerous than a lie.” Pantin admitted his clients were presented with contracts containing the clause agreeing to the five percent deduction of prize money shortly before the show was to go on, and when they had basically given their verbal commitment to perform. We objected strongly to that kind of negotiating strategy and refused to sign the contract but, agreed orally to do the show on the originally agreed terms and conditions that did not include any deduction from prize money,” Pantin added.

“Further,” Pantin stated, “while it is true we agreed to this type of deduction last year, we did so again after the fact, and on the oral understanding that this was a “one-off” deal, and that it would never happen again. Frankly, we feel used and abused.”

Pantin confirmed that his clients and the CPF will meet today, to once again try and “iron out the situation”.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,97338.html

It is quite possible that even Iwer made the deal to split the prize-money as a way of securing victory and boosting his standing. That is one way that his support of Munro and the CPF’s decision to take a percentage of Soca artistes’ prize-earnings could be explained. I do not believe that Munro would just let prize-winners go with those huge cash prizes. It was all too easy to set up.

It is quite possible that the show is becoming more and more difficult to rig as they cannot keep picking the same winners over and over, especially when the public can clearly see other artists giving better performances. It is difficult to trust many artistes to be part of the fix — to split prize-money for victories — so Munro could be trying to establish another way to get a cut of the prize-money which is largely sponsored by the government.

Some people are claiming that Pan Trinbago and TUCO take a percentage of the winnings from their shows. But firstly, the people who enter those shows know of this up front and choose to enter under that condition. And secondly, and more importantly, those bodies are like unions that represent artistes in their organizations, so the percentage cut is like a form of union dues (although I find that to be distasteful too).

The artistes who disagree with the cut in their winnings should get legal advice and let the courts decide. The government also has to explain why it is investing so much money in these private business shows, especially as they appear to be making money.

Soca fraternity in uproar over earnings
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.

Once again, no money for Fay-Ann
Reigning Power Soca Monarch and Groovy Soca Monarch Queen, Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez has not received her winnings. Controversy has arisen with the awarding of prize money, this time not only to the winner but to those who placed in the competition.

… Fay-Ann chides Munro
Ian Pantin, manager of soca artistes Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and Hunter, said yesterday that the performers felt betrayed and hoodwinked by the Caribbean Prestige Foundation, producer of the International Soca Monarch Competition.

They did not get the anticipated cheques for their winnings from the 2009 edition of the competition.

When they opened the envelopes presented to them on Friday night, the artistes saw letters from CPF signed by its executive president Gregory Fernandez.
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