THERE IS no tangible or physical evidence to support allegations of a leak of the 18 semi-finals of the Banks/Lime Pic-O-De-Crop competition.

In a release issued late yesterday evening, chairman of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Ken Knight, said there was “unanimity that there is the absence of tangible and or physical evidence to support the allegation of a leak, and further that no source of the alleged leak has been identified”.

Knight said inspection of the nightly judging was “indicative” that positions were affected each night when competitors scored higher points than those who performed previously.

“At the end of the preliminary judging, the 18 calypsonians scoring the highest points emerged as the semi-finalists with the calypsonian scoring the next highest points qualifying as the reserve.”

The NCF met with representatives from the Barbados Association of Tent Managers, The Alliance and the managers of The Kingdom Of Super Gladiators, Stray Cats and Tornadoes and Kid Site, of the Bacchanal Time tent.
The meeting was reportedly to discuss the alleged leak before the conclusion of the preliminary judging.

Chief executive officer Dr Donna Hunte-Cox said the NCF had completed its obligation to judge each of the 11 tents, after which corporate communications specialist Wayne Simmons “announced the only sanctioned list as prepared by accounting firm, Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Prior to last night’s announcement, Minister of Culture Steve Blackett had scheduled a meeting today on the issue with the NCF’s board.
Blackett told the MIDWEEK NATION he would not comment on the issue until he had the meeting.

Meantime, Ronnie De Announcer Clarke said he would perform as a legitimate No.19 and not as a reserve because of the circumstances.
The list of the 18 was apparently revealed as early as last Wednesday, three days before it was officially announced Saturday at about 1:30 a.m. with three tents remaining to be judged.

“The indication, at least from the information that relates to us, that I wasn’t in 19th position at the time, [makes it] unacceptable for me to accept the post of reserve with those type of circumstances . . . . , he said.

Attorney-at-law Douglas Trotman wrote two letters last Monday – one to the arbiter and the other to the NCF’s chief executive officer – complaining that the alleged leak was a breach of contract between Tornadoes, one of the three judged in the last week of the judging, and the NCF.
Trotman gave the NCF until the end of yesterday to respond to those letters.

If there were no answers by the 24-hour deadline, a court injunction could be brought against the NCF.
“I received correspondence from the NCF today (yesterday) and will be making contact with them and the arbiter today but given the time constraints the matter may have to be dealt with by the courts,” Trotman said yesterday.
A meeting late last night took place between Cave Shepherd All-Stars and the NCF so all concerns regarding the allegation could be disclosed. (TM/YB)