No $$ for Chutney Monarch
Wednesday, April 27 2011

TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - This year’s edition of the National Chutney Monarch Competition is in jeopardy since last year’s winners have not received prize monies which are to be paid by the Arts and Multiculturalism Ministry.

According to a media release issued by the National Chutney Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago (NCFTT), prizes for the 2010 edition of the competition were approved by Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Winston Peters last December.

No payments, however, have been issued for the finals which were held last May. The release stated this is the first time in 17 years the ministry is taking so long to issue payments.

“NCFTT is of the view that persons are deliberately ignoring the minister’s approval and to cause the competition to be jeopardised,” the release said.

When contacted, a NCFTT official speaking on behalf of Public Relations Officer David Maharaj said they have called ministry officials every week since getting the minister’s approval and have heard several different excuses as to why the prizes could not be paid. He said 20 prizes were to be handed over worth more than $600,000. The first prize which went to Rajin Dhanraj is $150,000.

“The next competition is supposed to be on May 29 but we cannot launch it. There is no point in launching it until the prizes are handed over to last year’s winners,” he said.

Calls to Peters’ mobile phone went unanswered. But public relations and media assistant to the minister Rolph Warner, said the minister was meeting with constituents yesterday and would be available for comment on the issue today.