San Fernando Carnival judges not paid

JUDGES who worked for Carnival for the past three years in San Fernando have not been paid.

Errol Sitahal, 70 has been judging for many years in various competitions for Carnival in south.

He is upset about this issue.

“It is outrageous that judges are contracted by the San Fernando City Corporation but are not paid for their duties.”

Each year, he said, 20 judges are contracted to adjudicate in the parade of bands, kiddies' Carnival and the calypso competition in San Fernando.

On March 25 (Carnival Tuesday), Sitahal said, while on duty judging, he met with mayor Junia Regrello and handed him a note saying judges have not been paid in three years.

“The mayor did not reply nor did he ever comment,” he said.

The disappointed judge also said the mayor has relatives who worked on the judges’ table and were paid on time.

When Newsday tried to contact him for a comment, Regrello did not answer his phone or reply to a WhatsApp message.

Convenor of Carnival in San Fernando Naigum Joseph did not answer his phone.

Sitahal, who is from San Fernando, said in previous years, judges selected to work for San Fernando carnival would meet and discuss the criteria and other matters.

“In the last three years we were called two days before Carnival and asked to judge these competitions,” he said.

Carnival, he said, is a national festival and it calls for better planning where judging the various competitions is concerned.

Sitahal said the San Fernando Corporation owes him $3,000 for the three years.

“Everybody gets paid for Carnival. My question is why are the judges not paid for service rendered?”

Sitahal said he contacted the San Fernando Carnival Committee’s office on several occasions and was always told they would contact him when the payment is ready.

Sitahal, a retired teacher, would like to ask Culture Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly to look into this matter.

“The judges play a significant role in Carnival. They offer their time and expertise into selecting winners and they should not be ignored by the authorities,” Sitahal said.