News Americas Now, Wednesday July 28, 2015-New York, New York:
The West Indian American Carnival Association (WIADCA), the organization which hosts the annual Labor Day Parade in Brooklyn, is in turmoil. It faces strong accusations of alleged discrimination and irregularity. Sources say its President, Thomas Bailey, has tendered his resignation several times since the damaging accusations surfaced. However, the Board of Directors has rejected his attempt to jump ship.
The organization is keeping up appearances. It launched its carnival two Fridays ago at Brooklyn Borough Hall with only Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Senator Jessie Hamilton present. The entire complement of Brooklyn Caribbean-American elected officials stayed away. This has darkened the cloud of uncertainty over the association. Sponsors have reportedly expressed unease over the controversy just two months before the grand parade.
The accusations have come from the Brooklyn based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID). CGID has charged that WIADCA discriminates against Guyanese and other non-Trinidadians. The Institute has pointed out that WIADCA’s Board of Directors and general membership are almost one hundred percent Trinidadian, and that the organization is not inclusive. The allegations came after CGID President Rickford Burke, a Guyanese, applied for membership and was denied. Burke has been a volunteer with the association for over four years.
Replies
So true we all have to depend on sponsors ,that changes Game big time , Carnivals need to start a stronger support for each other . I suggest the bigger Carnivals need to give stronger support, to all the smaller original Carnival in the U S A, Together we aspire together we will achieves,
CARIBBEAN GUYANA INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY THIS SOUNDS LIKE A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION. WOULD YOUR ORGANIZATION LET TRINIDADIANS BECOME MEMBERS IN IT?. IS THIS ORGANIZATION A BAND THAT PRODUCES MAS; MUSIC AND STEEL BAND MUSIC?
HERE IS THE PROBLEM GUYANA IS NOT A WEST INDIAN ISLAND OR COUNTRY. IF YOU DON'T KNOW GUYANA IS A SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY/ISLAND. WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO INVADE A WEST INDIAN ORGANIZATION STARTED BY TRINIDADIANS AND YOU ARE ALREADY A PRESIDENT OF YOUR ORGANIZATION. THIS ARGUMENT SHOULD BE MADE BY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF. WIADCA BE SMART AND STOP PLAYING POLITICS.
FINALLY! THIS ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE MADE UP OF COSTUME MAKERS, STEEL BANDS MEN; MUSICIANS: CALYPSO SINGERS AND CULTURAL DANCERS. DO YOU FIND ANY TRINIDADIANS INVADING YOUR ORGANIZATION LOOKING FOR POWER? CHECK THIS OUT! WE HAVE STARTED CARNIVAL ALL OVER THE WORLD AND GAVE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ACCESS TO TAKE PART. CHECK THE MAP GUYANA IS NOT EVEN IN THE CARIBBEAN. MUSICIAN.
Haul dey skunt! Lmao!
Point well made....
Good post Francescoli, this problem arises in most places where there is a Carnival.
It is unfortunate that Trini people cannot fund the parade by themselves, anytime you have to depend on sponsors it changes the game.