Grenada Chronicle
New York, USA - The West Indian American Day Carnival has a news President.
He is WIADCA stalwart, Thomas “Tom” Bailey who will replace Yolanda Lezama-Clarke in the post. Lezama-Clarke, the daughter of the event’s founder, Carlos Lezama, recently resigned.
“The organization’s membership has spoken. I am honored and humbled to become the third individual to lead this important group that is the lawful custodian of the annual Labor Day Carnival Festival. The new WIADCA TEAM is committed to the preservation of our culture and to move the organization forward in a new and positive direction,” Bailey said.
He added the new WIADCA team has already met with both Mas and Steel bands and presented them with checks that were won at the 2011 competitions.
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Wack radio is treating us to some of Robbie compositions, as a Birthday pleasure. Thank you Robbie for the beautiful music.
Congrats to President Bailey. Hopefully, his vision is to make WIADCA a formidable politically and financially powerful Caribbean institution. Since the carnival and related events generate over $1 billion annually to NYC's revenue stream, some of those funds should be used as a political tool to enhance Caribbean culture which would include the establishment of at least one permanent multi-purpose venue for the Steelbands and Mas Camps. Working with other Caribbean institutions, WIADCA is in a most influential position to establish a building to serve as either a Caribbean Cultural Center or a Caribbean Museum. Hopefully, President Bailey will be receptive to this undertaking, if it is not already a part of his vision. Stephen The Soca Warrior of WBAI 99.5 FM in NYC.
It's good that the bands finally got paid, but why did it take so long...what was the explanation? Also, there is no mention of whether there will be a Panorama this year and we are about to enter the month of May.
hey, Gospelpan, this band from wash dc Pan jammers won a jouvert steelband competition over 3 yrs ago, and never got paid, it's like they are saying, "they not from NY so **** them"
Bede,
I may have jumped with gun with my response because when you read between the lines in their statement, "WIADCA team has already met with both Mas and Steel bands and presented them with checks that were won at the 2011 competitions. " you realize that they are talking about prize money and not "all" the money owed to the bands. I have a gut feeling they still owe the bands money...time will tell.
Bede, read this article Article , very troubling.
Good article, GP.
New York State Assemblyman Nick Perry,
"My colleagues and I have a primary interest in making sure that whatever we do enhances the possibility that the carnival would be staged successfully and the people of Brooklyn will be able to enjoy Labor Day. There is more to this than the carnival. There are the economic benefits that come with the activities surrounding the carnival. It would be irresponsible of us (lawmakers) to get into any action that jeopardizes that. We are being careful to ensure that whatever we do is going to be positive and that we can contribute to a successful carnival.”
The state obviously recognizes the economic benefits of the Carnival, and I'm sure that the city and State makes a substantial profit.
However, where taxpayer funds are involved, the State has a responsibility to demand transparency and accountability from WIADCA.
WIADCA has to get its financial (and political) houses in order.
Glenroy this was a loaded article. There is a lot of rumbling on the ground. WIADCA's previous crew has a lot of answering to do. They have to hope that the state turns a blind eye to their past dealings. I would recommend that WIADCA pay "ALL" of the owed monies to the steelband ASAP.
Orange jumpsuits is not out of the possibilities.
bugs
I read it yesterday, very interesting with trouble, only thing we can do is hope for the BEST
Congrats to the new president Mr.Thomas Bailey, and don't forget Pan Jammers from Washington DC, thats being owed Carnival money when they won the Jouvert steelband competition some years ago, they never got paid (ask the band leader, EMLYN) A lot of people can attest to that.