Luther B following his win on July 29, 2012

Photo Credit: Melissa Edwards/BVI Platinum News

Luther B following his win on July 29, 2012

Photo Credit: Melissa Edwards/BVI Platinum News

This year the BVI did not send its Calypso Monarch to take part in the annual Leeward Islands Calypso Competition in Anguilla.

Reigning three-time Calypso Monarch, Luther B told BVI Platinum News that he contacted both the Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee, Mr. Marvin Blyden and Calypso Sub-Committee Chairman, Marvin Williams and he was told that they were unable to make contact with the officials in Anguilla.

"So I contacted the Chairman to see if he had gotten any word from Anguilla in regards to the trip that we do every year and he told me that he didn't get any information from Anguilla...I also contacted the Sub-Committee Chairman, Marvin Williams...They said they would have gotten back to me and they never did," he stated.

Luther B, who won this year's competition with his song 'Legacy', said the competition in Anguilla took place last week Saturday and he made contact with the committee a week and a half prior to the show.

"It's through the committee and based on the registration form; any trips I have to make for competitions, it has to be sanctioned by the committee. So I have to go through them anyway," he said.

When asked where he thinks the committee went wrong, Luther B said they should have made contact with the former committee to ascertain what has to be done and who to contact in order to take part in the competition, which is done annually.

"Well let's put it this way, if you take over a committee you supposed to make sure you have all the information and different contacts in place to make sure once you are ready to do these things, these different trips, contacts are in place...They said they don't have contacts for Anguilla; they supposed to contact the previous Sub-committee Chairman to see if they can give them contacts for Anguilla," Luther B stated.

He said the former Sub-Committee Chairman, Lavida Cottoy would usually ensure the necessary things are in place for the BVI to be represented.

"The Sub-Committee Chairman at the time, Lavida Cottoy, she would do all the contacts and so on with Anguilla and arrange for the Monarch to go on the trip in terms of financing and all of that...."

Further, when asked if he is disappointed, Luther B said, "It's not about me personally, but the BVI would want to have a representative in Anguilla because you are representing the country and it's more like a tourist trip as well. You are promoting the country. So it's not just about me wanting to be in a competition; of course I want to be in a competition to try and win the competition, but it is also about promoting the BVI too."

When contacted for a comment, Marvin Williams said he wishes not to comment on the matter at this time, but confirmed that the BVI did not send the Monarch to represent the BVI at the competition in Anguilla this year.