Fay Ann: No problem using my band for Soca Monarch

FAY ANN Lyons-Alvarez, new chairman of Caribbean Prestige Foundation – owners of the International Soca Monarch, yesterday responded to claims that the use of her Asylum Vikings band for the competition was nepotism.

In a phone interview with Newsday, she asked how it was nepotism.

“Soca Monarch has always prided itself on whoever is the band that is backing to be very fair and professional. So if they are calling my band into question, then they are calling me into question because what they are saying is the band, under my management and control, would not be fair to any one of the participants in the competition. (That) would be very concerning to me if that were the case.”

Some people on social media platforms on Tuesday, questioned the decision to use the band.

Lyons-Alvarez said there were bands who backed participants even when they had band members in the competition.

“Roy Cape which is the band that backed Teddyson John and people like Blaxx when Blaxx was in the competition. “So if we have had bands that had people in the competition backing everyone else in the competition, what is the problem with a band that has no performers in the competition backing everybody in the competition?”

She asked how could it be nepotism if she is organising the show. Lyons-Alvarez also asked how could she get an external band, she’s not familiar with, “whipped into shape to do a job I want to get done.”

Roy Cape, she said, has a schedule and she would have to go through finding out what Roy Cape is doing, and scheduling when they could rehearse, etc. She said her band is there, she knows all the members and she is the band’s manager and does not have to go through a third party to get a message to anybody.

She said the band has its own band room and everything its needs to get the rehearsals done.

Lyons-Alvarez said no one cared who backed the artistes last year. “Where was the story about who was the big backing band last year, nobody came out.

“This year we are trying to put things in place, and all of a sudden everyone has microscopes and morals.”

She said none of the artistes have a problem being backed by her band.

“Feel free to call me when they find the next problem.”