By LEISELLE MARAJ Wednesday, February 10 2010

THE Tourism Ministry has withdrawn financial support for the 2010 International Power and Groovy Soca Monarch Finals, carded for Friday, leaving the event’s promoter, Caribbean Prestige Foundation head, William Munro, to pick up the financial slack.

In an interview yesterday, Munro said both the Tourism and Culture ministries have made financial contributions for several years. The tourism ministry, he said, through the Tourism Development Company (TDC) has been a main contributor and last year, contributed $750,000 to the show.

He said when preparations were being made to host this year’s edition, the TDC was approached and he was assured, that funds would be made available, as usual.

Based on this assurance, the organisation went ahead with advertising the event, using the TDC logo under its list of sponsors. However, in a letter issued last month, the TDC said it would not be able to provide funding this year. Another letter dated January 19, stated that decision was made by the TDC board of directors.

A letter from Tourism Minister Joseph Ross, dated January 22, also stated the organisation’s request for funding, dated January 19, could not be met by the ministry.

“They have put us in an awkward position because they gave us the assurance that the money will be allocated and we began advertising with their names listed as a sponsor. Now they have created an additional expense because we had to take their names out of all the advertisements for the show on Friday,” Munro said yesterday.

“We also had to come up with the money which they would have contributed towards the show. Seeing that last year’s contribution was $750,000, we expected to receive more this year but we ended up with nothing,” Munro added. Attempts to contact TDC officials and the minister yesterday proved futile.