There is more fallout tonight from Saturday’s now controversial
carnival road march. Last night Jam Jam Mas Band complained about the selection
of the winner and today two more bands joined the chorus. The first is the Erotic
Mas Band which placed second. Band members stress they aren’t complaining
because they lost. The band is however raising serious questions about the judging
process which they say was flawed from the outset. The black Pearl junior band
which placed third this year is also complaining. Erotic fired off a two page
letter to the Carnival Association and Valerie Woods told us what their complaints
are.
Valerie Woods, Erotic Mas Band
“We are not demanding a change in any result and nor are we saying
that we won and we should be recognized. As the letter stated, in their wisdom,
if those are the official results, at the very least we think all bands require
some clarity in how those decisions were made because not just us but other
bands as well have serious valid points on the judging and the criteria used.
One in particular that comes to mind, or two really, is that at the pre-judging
point for king and queen there were two judges while at the second and the only
other point for judging there were three, and the other is that there were no
judging platforms, judges were interacting with revellers and band officials. 
They were judging a carnival that was viewed by thousands of people and so they
were judging it from street side, not a good vantage point. The band management
is simply asking for clarity, we are not demanding anything, we are not making
any accusations but after investing hours from our regular jobs, upwards of
ten to twenty thousand dollars over the last four to five months we feel that
at the very minimum we are entitled to that.”
Errol Gentle, Black Pearl
“I believe that Black Pearl did right. I mean it came out with what
the criterias asked for the judging; beautiful colors, costumes. They changed
the rules on us, all of a sudden, but we gave them what they wanted. We came
out with a tight, awesome, big group, we gave them that, we gave them energy
and then you guys were there with the cameras, I was there so I know this and
all of Belize were there so they know this. We had colors, we were coordinated,
and we lost. We came in third, what is it, is it bias?”
David Matus, Erotic Mas Band
“We are trying to see carnival grow bigger, better, and we are going
more elaborate in costumes. So when we at the end of the day count down and
we found out that we are not being placed first or we are not judged fairly,
it hurts the band, it hurts everybody who is working to make carnival in Belize
better. We are trying to say give us a fair judging, bring in people from outside
to judge this carnival, people who know what they are judging and you will see
which one is the best band out here.”
Valerie Woods,
“What we think needs to be done is have a mature discussion with the
Association and who makes that association up and let’s come up with some
recommendations on how to improve the management of it. Erotic Mas Band met
yesterday and I can tell you with David and Jose here that we are very clear
if we are going to come out again nest year.”
Again that letter from Erotic Mas Band, like the letter from the Jam
Jam Mas Band was addressed to Association President Patrick Thompson. He told
us this evening that the letters have been forwarded to the 7 member judiciary
committee, reportedly headed by Soli Arguelles. Thompson also sits on that committee.
A decision will be made by September 13th which is when prizes will be awarded.
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