Guardian - Renuka Singh
Head of TUCO Ainsley King, right, and patrons dance during the performance by Bally at the Kaiso Karavan show at the Garden Theatre, Queen’s Hall, on Thursday.
ANISTO ALVES
There are reports that of the $15 million allocated for the Taste of Carnival, more than $12 million was spent on infrastructure and other logistics, including the controversial pods on the north side of the Savannah.
On Friday, officials from TUCO and the National Carnival Committee (NCC) were locked in a meeting to determine how to get the competition back on but it was deadlocked.
Shows run by TUCO make up a significant part of the activities planned for Taste of Carnival. The various calypso tents will be the main attractions at Queen’s Hall and Naparima Bowl up to February. Other events include Calypso Fiesta at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando on February 20, Kaisorama on February 23 at Carnival City, Queen’s Park Savannah, and the finals of the Calypso Monarch competition, a major component of Dimanche Gras at Carnival City on February 27.
Taste of Carnival has turned sour for the Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (TUCO) as there is a threat to abort this year’s National Calypso Monarch competition over limited funding for prizes.
Head of TUCO Ainsley King confirmed to Guardian Media yesterday that he had pulled the plug after ten competitors had performed before the judges at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah, on Friday night.
“I discovered that the budget remained at $1.5 million even though we declared that it would not be sufficient. We are trying to work with them,” King said.
Talks between TUCO and the National Carnival Commission aimed at resolving the situation were deadlocked up to late yesterday
“We cut, we cut to fit into the smallest budget we could fit into,” King said.
“They decided to hold on to that and I decided to call my people and bring a halt to the auditions. To stop and postpone it until further notice until we get clarity.”
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