By Elizabeth Williams Tobago Bureau
Story Created: Feb 23, 2011 at 2:47 AM ECT
Story Updated: Feb 23, 2011 at 2:47 AM ECT
Even as Tobago is being looked at as the next island to host the Miss World pageant, controversy brewed yesterday as the mother of reigning Trinidad and Tobago/World Davia Chambers said her daughter was being poorly treated by local pageant officials.
Lauren Groome made the complaint at the Scarborough Esplanade, during an official visit from Miss World 2010 Alexandria Mills, Miss World runner-up Emma Waraeus and chairman and owner of Miss World Ltd Julia Morley, who is scouting Tobago as a possible host for the Miss World competition in December.
Groome made her complaint to Minister of Tobago Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin and Minister of the People Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh, who had to intervene to calm her down.
She said her daughter allegedly had been having trouble in accessing a scholarship fund allocation, prize money and other benefits she was entitled to, having won the right to represent the country.
Morley and her delegation were not within earshot when Groome made her complaint.
Afterwards, Alleyne-Toppin said in any organisation, there will be people who are not satisfied with the arrangements. She said she would do all in her power to assist in rectifying the problem to ensure Chambers is ready for the pageant.
"I am standing in here because the Prime Minister has asked me to meet with Ms Morley and the team and to make sure we have talks towards the hosting of the Miss World pageant. We do not want the Miss World pageant to come to Tobago in a cloud," Alleyne-Toppin said.
Speaking afterwards, local franchise holder Michael Raghunana, said he was excited Trinidad and Tobago was being looked at as a possible host for the Miss World pageant.
"The situation is Julia Morley asked for a private meeting. I was honoured we had the meeting; it was successful...and the situation is here, at least to consider Trinidad and Tobago hosting Miss World."
The delegation will be in Trinidad today.
www.trinidadexpress.com
Miss World 2010 Alexandria Mills in Trinidad and Tobago.
BEAUTIES AND THE CHIEF: THA Chief Secretary Orville London with Miss World 2010 Alexandria Mills (right) and first runner-up, Miss Botswana Emma Wareus, after the two beauties paid a courtesy call on him yesterday.
Miss World eyes Tobago
By CAROL MATROO Wednesday, February 23 2011
click on pic to zoom inBEAUTIES AND THE CHIEF: THA Chief Secretary Orville London with Miss World 2010 Alexandria Mills (right) and first runner-up, Miss Botswana Emma Wareu...WITH THE blessings of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Tobago may be the next venue for Miss World 2011, notwithstanding an ugly and embarrassing shouting incident involving a female relative of this country’s representative to the Miss World 2010 pageant.
Minister of Tobago Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin yesterday said the sister-isle could get the nod after co-chair of the Miss World Pageant Julia Morley and an entourage including reigning Miss World, American Alexandria Mills and first runner-up Miss Botswana Emma Wareus, paid a courtesy call on Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London yesterday morning and also toured several tourist attractions and facilities.
Tobago’s chances of hosting such an international event was dealt a severe blow when a woman claiming to be the mother of Miss TT Davia Chambers, met Alleyne-Toppin and in the presence of reigning Miss World Alexandria Mills, first runner-up Emma Wareus and the Miss World Pageant co-chair Julia Morley, and angrily demanded to know why her daughter Davia Chambers — TT’s representative at the Miss World 2010 pageant — was not invited to be part of the local team of officials to accompany the Miss World pageant organisers to different areas in Tobago.
As the Miss World entourage including Mills, Wareus and Morely looked on, Alleyne-Toppin tried her best to placate the angry woman while Chambers stood nearby with her back turned as she adjusted her make-up.
In the end, Miss World Alexanderia Mills led away Chambers and spoke to her in the company of Morley.
The reigning Miss World later led Chambers into a nearby Audi sedan and continued speaking with her.
“We are looking at TT, with Tobago as the main venue, for Miss World 2011. We have had our first talks. Miss Morley and the rest of her team spent some time touring the island. They visited the new Scarborough Hospital and they were later taken to the Buccoo Reef and other sites,” Alleyne-Toppin said. The entourage is expected in Trinidad today where they will tour several venues.
Part of today’s schedule includes dinner with Persad-Bissessar at the Prime Minister’s Residence and Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, where Toppin said a final decision would be made. The minister, who admitted she was very excited about the prospect of the sister isle hosting the international event, said they made no request for the pageant to be held in this country, but said the offer was made by Morley and the Miss World organisation.
“If given the opportunity we would say yes right now, but it is the Prime Minister who has the final say, and she will be meeting with them tomorrow (today),” she said.
The minister said hosting the event would be a big leap for Tobago’s tourism, infrastructure and especially for their marketing thrust
newsday.co.tt
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