Of course carnival wouldn’t be carnival without the controversy and this time it is Jam Jam complaining that one of the judges had a conflict of interest. They also argue that the southside masqueraders should have been disqualified because the straw hats they wore weren’t handmade. Jam Jam’s bandleader Alma Gabourel told us why she’s upset.
Alma Gabourel, Bandleader – Jam Jam
“One of the judges had a sister dancing in one of the other bands. That is conflict of interest. The king that won, he didn’t dance that costume, he couldn’t even move his costume. The other thing is the band that they said won, they were wearing straw hats and fruits on the side. You need to make your head pieces, you cannot just put on a straw hat and call it a head piece. So many things went wrong to me that day, so many conflicts of interest was out there and nobody is saying anything. I am not saying our band was the best.”
Keith Swift,
Are you just being sore losers?
Alma Gabourel,
“No I am not being a sore loser. Last year we didn’t look anything like a carnival band and we cam in third. This year I made my point to do better, to come out stronger this year and we did. Everyone can plainly see who was the best out there. I am not being a sore loser, I just want some answers. I want to know where did my band go wrong.”
Alma Gabourel has written an official letter of complaint on behalf of Jam Jam to the Carnival Association. Association President Patrick Thompson told us they will review the complaint. He says if any changes are made, it will be before prizes are given out later this month. The junior road march winner gets $4,000 while the senior road march winner gets $6,000.
