By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A CONFLICT about the management of this summer’s anticipated Acklins Regatta threatens to result in the cancellation of the event, which could potentially devastate that island’s local economy, organisers said.

Members of the Acklins Trade and Development Association (ATDA) have hosted the regatta for the past 37 years and are blaming Agriculture and Fisheries Minister V Alfred Gray for the controversy, accusing the MICAL MP of playing politics and “meddling.”

When he responded to their claims yesterday, Mr Gray sought to distance himself from the

controversy, telling The Tribune that he is awaiting recommendations from government regatta consultant Rev Dr Phillip McPhee and Acting Permanent Secretary Rena Glinton before making a decision on the matter.

The controversy centres around who will host and manage the event.

The two factions opposing each other include members of a regatta committee that is a part of the ATDA and a rival group headed by a former commodore of that committee, Delworth Gibson, a nephew of the late “King” Eric Gibson.

Although Mr Gibson served as commodore of the ATDA’s committee last year, the association this year decided to appoint someone else to that position due to issues with his leadership style.

“When they did that, my understanding is Delworth didn’t want to go and he said he was appointed by the minister (Mr Gray),” Mr McPhee said yesterday.

ATDA members yesterday insisted that the controversy is “about politics,” suggesting that Mr Gray is eager to see the event headed by someone he believes to be supportive of the PLP.

Asked to comment on the matter, Ms Glinton yesterday said the responsibility of the ministry is to ensure that taxpayer funds are put to good use.

Last year, the government gave the committee $36,000 to help host the event. Most of those funds went toward paying for barge services, ATDA Chairman BJ Moss said.

Nonetheless, Ms Glinton suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources is not prepared to step in and directly mediate the controversy between the warring factions.

“We have funds allocated for the Acklins Regatta,” she said. “We will make sure the funds don’t go into anyone’s pocket. When there’s controversy, we wait until the dust is settled. We don’t know who is right. Precedent (doesn’t matter to) me. In reality, today there is an impasse. We had meetings, two or three, with the different sides. It’s a personality (issue) as far as I can see.”

Members of the ATDA said they will have to cancel the regatta if the government declines the usual sponsorship.

Mr McPhee said a decision about how to manage the event has to be made within the next few days because the festival is slated for August.

He expressed confidence that despite the controversy, the festival will still take place.

“The (ATDA) don’t have the power to cancel the regatta,” he said. “If there is tension, the government will appoint a steering committee. We don’t want to have to do that, but that would be the final step if we must do it. We will not let one or any party disrupt regatta.”

Mr Gray also said he hopes the festival will still take place.

Meanwhile, as the festival remains in limbo, one ATDA member, Wallace Rolle, emphasised the role the regatta plays in the small island’s economy.

“Club owners, hotel owners, restaurants, car rentals, these people depend on hundreds of persons to get into Acklins,” he said. “This is the only time of the year that they really could make money.”