Thunder Birds, Karnival Korner & DDA dispute over 2016 Adult Band of The Year award headed to court?

​Reports indicate Thunder Birds Inc, Karnival Korner & Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), appear to be deadlocked, in their efforts at settling a dispute over the 2016 Adult Band of The Year award. In February, the DDA announced Afrikulture Stilt Walkers, with their presentation “Tempest Island Alive,” as the winner of that category. However, Thunder Birds Carnival Band and Carnival Korner, wrote to the Authority expressing their “disagreement and opposition” to the decision.
 
Their letter requested that the DDA review the matter, or face legal action. The Authority did not respond, and the bands obtained an injunction from the court, preventing the DDA from awarding the prize money to the Afrikulture Stilt Walkers. That injunction was lifted on 22nd March 2016, when the parties met in court. In their statement of claim, Thunder Birds Inc and Karnival Korner, represented by Caesar Emanuel and Emmanuel Loblack, claim (7) seven grounds of “negligence” by the DDA whom they state, among other claims, “failed to train its agents and servants in the judging criteria, for a band to be eligible in the competition, and to be adjudged the band of the year.”
 
The statement adds, “Claimant therefore claims disqualification of the Afrikulture Stilt Walkers in the Adult Band of the year competition, and the granting of prizes of the Adult Band of the year 2016, and the runner-up position, to Thunder Birds band and Karnival Korner Carnival Band respectively.” They are also claiming damages, costs, interest and “further other relief as the court deems just.” Attorney Glen Ducreay is representing Thunder Birds Inc and Karnival Korner.
 
But in its defense, filed by its attorney, Rose-Anne Charles, the DDA totally refutes the claims and said “The claimants were judged by a panel of trained, experienced judges who properly applied the rules fairly with adequate competence and skill.” They called the claims by Thunder Birds Inc “unsubstantiated, have no merit, and an emotional response of sore losers, following their failure to win first place in the Adult Carnival band category, when up against a relatively new band Afrikulture Stilt Walkers, over the past two years.”
 
“As a result of the forgoing, the Claimants are not entitled to the remedies claimed by them against the defendant,” the defense concludes.