Saturday, October 4 2008

Bandleader Owen Hinds and calypsonian Franz “Delamo” Lambkin are to join former government minister Howard Chin Lee as directors on the board of the National Carnival Commission NCC.

Hinds is due to represent the National Carnival Bands Association of which he is the president, while Lambkin will serve as the representative for the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation, Newsday learned yesterday.

Hinds and Lambkin yesterday confirmed their nomination and acceptance of the posts of directors but could not provide any further information. They will join Chin Lee, who is to be the chairman of the NCC board. With just four months to Carnival 2009, the full board is yet to be officially announced by Culture Minister Marlene Mc Donald, who has said persons have been reluctant to serve because of the scrutiny they would have to under go in accordance with the Integrity in Public Life Act. The previous NCC board was disbanded on March 31, 2008.

However, NCBA public relations officer David Cameron said the organisation is anxious to have the board appointed so its budget for next Carnival can be approved.

“We have a very good relationship with the NCC. In fact, over the past three years our prize money has gone up 200 percent,” stated Cameron.

“We have put forward our budget and we’re positive they will do as best as they can.”

His one reservation is that the board of the NCC can not thoroughly plan and execute every aspect of Carnival 2009 within a four-month period.

He said, “Everything will be ready but Carnival is a 12-month industry. We want to see a board in place to oversee the full operation of Carnival year-round.”