There is a rift in the Barbados Associationof Masqueraders’ (BAM) camp.At least two band leaders have confirmed cutting all ties with BAM and, according to Trevor Chase of Ooutraje, there are more looking to make that same decision.Chase said he was “fed up” with the way he was being represented, and because of that he was “finished with BAM”.“In no uncertain terms I said to them that I will have no further dealings with them. I wrote my letter to the NCF [National Cultural Foundation] stating that I will no longer be under BAM,” he said, noting his dissatisfaction with BAM president Roger Millar’s stewardship. He said: “I have serious problems with management deciding that someone who does not have a band can be my president. He does not know the stresses we go through. He used to know when he had a band, but he has no idea now.”Chase said he and some other bandleaders were looking to form a new organisation to “properly” represent their interests.“It is in the pipeline. We have gone through the investigations and we are looking at it very seriously. We do not want to confuse the festival, so we will do it when it [Crop-Over] is over.“I believe that if I cannot see eye to eye, let me go my way and you go yours. Let me form my own group that understands what we are trying to achieve. That way peace will reign.“We have to be able to make decisions as a group for the betterment of the festival. That is not happening; and until that happens BAM will be looked upon as jokers,” he stated. Mackie Holder from the band Wednesday 2000, who has also severed ties with BAM, said his feelings mirrored Chase’s.“Whatever Trevor said, I agree with,” Holder said.Efforts to reach Millar yesterday proved futile.
