CATEGORY:CARNIVAL --------------------- INSIDE GRENADA WEDNESDAY July 25,2007 by Wallace J.A ST.GEORGE’S: Justice Kenneth Benjamin has ruled in favour of the Grenada Progressive Association of Calypsonians and Tents (GPACT), ordering the Attorney General’s office to provide the organization with the relevant information pertaining to the country of origin, experience and character references of the judges that are being used to judge calypso competitions for this year’s carnival. On Monday of this week, GPACT filed an application before Justice Kenneth Benjamin claiming that the Grenada Cultural Foundation (GCF) had acted outside of its jurisdiction in making the decision to use foreign judges for this year’s carnival. GPACT felt that there were procedural breaches committed in the appointment of the regional judges. The group claims that it was not informed about the origin of the judges nor was it provided with information on the judges’ qualifications. On Monday, lawyer for GPACT, Anslem Clouden said that “They (GCF) had undertaken to provide GPACT with the names of the Judges, the rationale for the appointment of foreign Judges, the sources of these Judges, and the process and criteria of selection of these Judges, but they have not responded.” In explaining the actions of GPACT, President of the group, Adrian “Persuader” Thomas said that they had planned to file an injunction in court but decided not to go that route again because carnival belongs to the people. He claims, however, that the relevant authorities had failed to provide them with the relevant details on the regional judges for this years calypso shows and so they had to resort to court action. Chairman of the Grenada Cultural Foundation, Arthur Hosten, said on Wednesday that the information requested by the court will be provided. He mentioned that GPACT is the only organization questioning the selection of the foreign judges and feels that the motion filed by GPACT was an attempt by the group to stop or disrupt carnival. Hosten says that the law has given the Minister of Culture the mandate to deliver policies to the Board and as Chairman of the Board of Directors, he is within law (as the Event Manager and Producer of Grenada carnival) to formulate policies that will go along with Carnival celebrations. He feels that the essence of GPACT’s motion is that they get to chose judges which he thinks is morally and fundamentally wrong. In the meantime, Carnival 2K7 continues as normal but a final decision will be made when the matter goes back before the court on August 7th.