The Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) has announced that money owed to the various winners of Vincymas 2022 will be paid this weekend, more than five months after the conclusion of the premier cultural festival.

This is the longest the CDC has ever taken to pay prize money to winners of Vincymas events.

Keith ‘Grabba Finesse’ Charles

The announcement of the payments came two days after the 2019 Soca Monarch Derron “Magikal” Rouse chastised the management of Vincymas over non-payment of prize money in a social media post.

Magikal who placed third in the Soca Monarch competition last year told SEARCHLIGHT on Thursday that he would reserve further comments until after the prize giving ceremony.

On Monday, January 2, he posted these words on his Facebook page: “A MAN WHO STANDS FOR NOTHING WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING.

“Music in SVG is a hustle for some but for me is a BUSINESS. Music is my bread and butter. If the rest man dem doh wa talk cause of friend friend thing that is them but I know what I deserve and I know my worth!

“Jeddddd literally nobody respect we!

“Just imagine we perform in soca monarch last year and this is a new year & up to now we ain’t get pay & nobody from CDC have the respect to even reach out to we & give us a update about payment or nothing. Man dem have money to open bar and do everything else, I know every month they getting their money to be on the board. Dem getting pay so wey do we?

“Like we don’t have no value when carnival done.

SMH y’all need to do better And I get to understand alyo done pay wayhename from up so smh.”

The comment received a slew of replies on social media, among them, one from the second place finisher in the 2022 Soca Monarch competition, Keith ‘Grabba Finesse’ Charles.

“Big Up To Derron Magikal Rouse For Speaking Out On The Topic I Have Been Talking About Over The Pass Few Years In Which Other Artists Say Me Is A Fight Down Artist Just To Defend Them In The Side Of Business They Never Can Understand…”, Grabba wrote on Facebook.

He added: “I Didn’t Only Speak About CDC Not Paying But I’ve Talking About Artist Boycott Soca Monarch Leave Fireman Alone To Sing Before Carnival Start They Always Take It As A Joke. I Tell Them They Need To Get Themselves Copyrighted So They Can Get A Income From Streaming Platforms by Distribution Still Nothing Alot Of artist’s Still Ain’t Coprighted. I also talk to these artist’s about there values in this business helping them to get there price range right for them but they all sit back. Now Magikal get to understand a lil by walking in my foot steps lets don’t forget who is the YOUNG GENERAL THE VOICE OF THE YOUNG ARTIST AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN GENERAL.”

On Wednesday, the CDC sent out a press release stating their intention to pay prize money this weekend and apologizing for the late payments.

“The Carnival Development Corporation in discussions with the Cabinet of St. Vincent and the Grenadines agreed to host Vincymas 2022 because we thought that it was important for the components and all who depend on the festival to be able to return to this hugely significant aspect of our culture and of our tourism product.

“When the decision was taken, we were fully aware that the scale of the festival and the restrictions still surrounding travel to the island would not allow for significant foreign participation. We also needed to provide additional support to our components due to the reduced scale of the festival and the continued level of uncertainty that existed at that time. All of this, coupled with the reduced sponsorship and financial support that was made available to the CDC, had a financial impact on the hosting of Vincymas 2022.

“For many years, the CDC has looked forward to hosting the prize-giving ceremony in the months immediately succeeding the festival, but access to finances to meet this commitment in 2022 was delayed. We have been advised that funds will be made available this week, and we look forward to hosting the prize-giving ceremony this weekend. All winners would be advised accordingly.

“I assure you that the CDC fully respects all of the components of Vincymas, and all of the players who strive over the years to make Vincymas the experience that it has been for all of our locals and visitors to these shores.

“We sincerely apologize to the component members and all who have been affected by this delay,” the release issued on January 4 and signed by Chair of the CDC, Ricardo Adams.