HOME	AUGUST 28st, 2004

AUGUST 28

One of Grenada's veteran j'ouvert ole mas band player, Jude "Cafe Bull" Mitchell is still angry with the Grenada Carnival Committee (GCC) and its handling of the just-ended carnival season. Mitchell is threatening to take the committee to court to clear the air on its judging policy for the season.

A few weeks earlier, Helen Marie & Associates had reached an out of court settlement with GCC on the judging of the parade of the bands in the Children Carnival Frolic (CCF) held on July 31 at the national stadium at Queen's Park.

Attorney-at-law Dr. Francis Alexis was hired by Helen Marie while Seon & Associates was retained by the carnival body. Mitchell has now obtained the services of Dr. Alexis to write to the head of GCC, Jennifer Woodroffe to furnish his band with certain information on the ole mas.

Following is the full text of the letter sent by Alexis to Woodroffe:

13 August 2004

Mrs. Jennifer Woodroofe

Chairperson

Grenada Carnival Committee

National Stadium

Queen's Park

St. George's

Dear Mrs. Woodroofe

Re: Cafe & Associates and Carnival 2004 j'ouvert ole mas Competition

1.1 We write you, Mrs. Woodroofe, in your capacity as Chairperson of the Grenada Carnival Committee ("GCC"), the sub-committee of the Grenada Cultural Foundation ("GCF") responsible for the implementation and operations for Carnival 2004 the GCF being the Management Committee of Grenada Carnival 2004, the Carnival having been declared by the Minister of Culture a Public Festival that is a National Festival within the Public Festivals Regulation Act 1994 Act No. 12 of 1994

2.1 We write you, Madam, on instructions from our client Cafe & Associates, led by Mr. Jude Cafe Mitchell of Woodlands, St. George's. Cafe & Associates produced and presented the Carnival 2004 j'ouvert ole mas band IN TIME TO COME, which duly entered and accordingly took part in the Carnival 2004 j'ouvert ole mas competition organised by GCC.

2.2 For the past nineteen years uninterruptedly Cafe & Associates has been producing and presenting Carnival j'ouvert ole mas bands taking part in the annual Carnival j'ouvert ole mas competition.

3.1 The Carnival 2004 j'ouvert ole mas competition had two divisions namely, the band or group division and the individual division.

3.2 In the j'ouvert ole mas band or group division, there were to be two (2) group category places adjudicated by the judges and awarded by GCC, namely (1) best ole mas band 1st prize; and (2) best ole mas band 2nd prize.

3.3 In the j'ouvert ole mas individual division, six (6) categories were to be adjudicated by the judges and awarded by GCC, namely: (1) most comical placard, (2) most comical individual, (3) most original placard, (4) most original individual, (5) best current affairs mas, and (6) individual mas of the j'ouvert.

3.4 There are no places called old mas individual 1st place, ole mas individual 2nd place and ole mas individual 3rd place.

4.1 My client hereby requires GCC to let my client have in writing: (1) the names of the winners of the two (2) group category places, as adjudicated by the judges, paragraph 3.2 hereof refers; (2) the names of the winners of the six (6) individual category places, as adjudicated by the judges, para. 3.3 hereof refers; stating what is the portrayal by each successful individual.

4.2 My client would appreciate receiving the judges' score sheets.

4.3 My client request that GCC furnish to my client the materials referred to in paragraphs 4.1-4.2 by 1.00 p.m. Monday 16 August 2004, considering that j'ouvert was held since Monday 9th.

Otherwise, my client will be seeking justice legally next Monday afternoon.

Yours sincerely

Francis Alexis

FRANCIS ALEXIS & CO

BARRISTERS-AT-LAW

cc: Mrs. Joslyn Gairy

Chairperson, Grenada Cultural Foundation