Organizers of the Stardom Calypso Tent are gearing up to crown a new winner tonight, however last year’s winner Tarina Simon says she is disappointed that she hasn’t been able to collect on a prize trip which was part of the winner’s package.
In an exclusive interview with Dominica News Online, Simon said the show’s organizer’s are yet to issue a letter to Whitchurch Travel Agencies confirming her victory and allowing her to collect on the promise trip for two on the L’express des isles ferry.
Simon, who has impressed many calypso lovers during her four-year stint, did not participate in the calypso season this year. Her reasons for doing so are personal, according to her.
“I had personal business to take care of which was taking precedence, so I opted to deal with them instead,” the 21-year-old singer told DNO.
While this is unrelated to her reasons for not taking part in the 2010 calypso season, Simon has asked the sponsors of last year’s Stardom Tent to honour their promises to provide the show’s winners with their prizes.
“Last year I won Stardom Monarch of the Tent and persons…refused to issue a letter confirming my victory as monarch so that I could collect my trip for two on the express from Whitchurch,” she explained.
Her efforts to discuss the issue with one of the members of Stardom Tent were unsuccessful. “I have made contact with the necessary persons with no avail. The last I heard from them was that it would have been brought up at their opening meeting just at the beginning of the [calypso] season,” she added.
However, Chairman of Stardom Tent Norman Letang said he was not aware of the situation. In fact when contacted by a DNO reporter he said he was hearing of the issue for the first time.
“I didn’t think there was any problem. If she had a trip for two she can still get it … in that time I have spoken to her over a hundred times, if she had mentioned that I would have written a letter. I am not the head and end of Stardom, but I represent the band and the band is a major part of the tent and that could have been organized. If it’s a letter, a letter could have been issued,” Letang said.
According to him, he is willing to assist Simon in obtaining her prize and issue a letter to the travel agency. “If she wanted to travel at such and such a time it would just be to write Whitchurch … I don’t see a problem with that,” he stated.
Although Simon expressed disappointment about the situation, she said it will not interfere with her love for the calypso art form. She informed her fans to anticipate her participation at next year’s competition. “They better look out for me – sweet voice, sweet lyrics and as always sweet melodies. Simply the best,” she asserted.
Edona Jno Baptiste – News Coordinator/Reporter
I must agree if a promise is made to any Artist in any competitions it should be hounoured, Tarina should get her prize and also be compensated for the delay from the Organizers of the Stardom Calypso Tent .
Girl don’t give up i got your back ,
One love from djvern “Islandselector”
@Vybez…Whether Tarina came public or not is not the issue at hand here. It is WRONG, i repeat WRONG for persons to wait so long to receive their prize for their hard work and then question them because they came public about it. It sets a bad example. The queen contestants are having the same problem. Bad management! Nonesense. This got to stop!!!
hmmmmn, I am not surprised. Were it a man he would have gotten his prize the very next day. If i were you I would start my own .. tent. Girls only. We have the organization thing wrapped. Leave it to bigots.
Tarina has and is a reputable woman in Dominica , her fans stand by her side and as such she has support when ever needed it is a syndome in dominica that when things are promised on then they cannot be delivered on well, T welcome abort my “Natureship” hope they give what is due and for tose of you asking it is for only two reasons why the sweet Tarina Simon Could not take part in the Season I’LL give you one cause the other is real personal, but note be made … T has no prob for song writter casuse both herself and her mom do a wonderful job .. and am quite sure that there are others like her fellow calypsonians that do not mind writting for her
Spookie, what politics have to do in that. All you really hate Skerrit. I really want to know what Skerrit did to some of you. Everything is Skerrit. At the right time he will leave for all you.
is their habit my girl
THE FAILURE OF SHOW ORGANIZERS TO PAY COMPETITION PRIZES IS REALLY BECOMING PROBLEMATIC….THIS NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY REVIEWED LESS WE LOOSE ALL OUR BEST COMPETITORS
P.S: spookie…..I JUST HAD TO COMMENT….WHAT DOES THE PM TRAVELLING HAVE TO DO WITH TARINA’S PRIZE AT A PRIVATELY ORGANISED FUNCTION?…..NOW REALLY…. SHOULD IT ALWAYS HAVE SOME POLITICAL UNDERTONE.
why she and her mother doh go and complain to king skerrit?
Tarina I think that you are a brilliant singer/entertainer with awesome potential.
However, sometimes we can make decisions that causes us to gain negative publicity….this reminds me of the Digicel Raising Star competition.
We have a mentality in this country to go public with everyting before first seeking a more private resolution. Mr. Letang was not even aware that you had not received your prize so I am wondering whether you spoke to the organizers of the show first before speaking to DNO. The thing is although you have WON and DESERVE your prize, you do not want to put yourself in an uncomfortable position with the tent where you most likely will be singing next season if you choose to participate. We need to be peacemakers and solve things in a more dignified way, going public like this will cause negative publicity for the tent which could have been avoided.
Anyways my dear all the best in your singing career and beyond.
that’s Dominica for you.
it looks very poor on the organizers and chaiman of Stardom Tent it’s now another year and the SISTER still haven recieved part of her winnings, Mr. Chairman the Travel Agency WHITCHURCH and TARINA should have copies of the letter for their file long before she had to let the world know that she still haven recieved what is rightfully hers so now that you know we hope that you will make sure it is documented and recorded and she can take her trip within the time frame specified. I hope the pass do not repeat itself this year.
.. i used to support her so highly in her early years but after a while its like she leaves a bad taste in your mouth. She and Dice need to understand the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh…let her pray she get someone to write her a song next year!!
every time she win something they doesn’t pay her!!!!!!!
so that is why you doe perform this year!!!!!!!!
give de woman her prize trip, PM travelling allover the globe …. demand yur prize g/friend…
Arwwwwwwwwwww look at little Tee-Tee. Warmed our hearts from since the days of StarQuest. Such a positive young lady. Kudos to you and your mammy. Give de chile her prize eh if allu know what good for allu.