A contentious confrontation has erupted within Belize’s Carnival Association, casting shadows over the transparency of prize fund management during a recent press conference. Band leader Leroy Smith of Fort Revelers publicly challenged President Patrick Thompson regarding an unfulfilled promise of third-place prize money.
The dispute originated when two competing bands were disqualified from competition for failing to meet the mandatory requirement of fielding 100 revelers. Smith asserted that despite this disqualification, association leadership had committed to awarding the third-place prize to one of the affected bands. The controversy has now expanded beyond the initial promise, raising critical questions about whether unclaimed prize funds were properly returned to the National Celebrations Commission (NCC), the governmental body responsible for funding carnival prizes.
In his defense, Thompson referenced the association’s rulebook which clearly stipulates participation eligibility requirements. He emphasized that the disqualification was solely based on numerical shortcomings rather than subjective judgment. The president further clarified the financial workflow, explaining that prize money never enters the association’s accounts directly. Instead, the NCC disburses funds exclusively to qualified winners based on official results submitted by the association.
Thompson stated unequivocally that since no third-place winner met the criteria, the NCC consequently never issued the corresponding prize check. This procedural explanation however failed to address Smith’s core allegation regarding the alleged promise of awarding the prize despite the disqualification. The public exchange has ignited broader concerns about accountability and financial transparency within the organization responsible for managing one of Belize’s most significant cultural celebrations.