Chutney bacchanal

Singh, the chief executive officer of Southex Event Management Company Limited, has accused Atherly of using the name, “The National Chutney Soca Monarch”, which he (Singh) complained is similar to his product, “Chutney Soca Monarch”, which was established 17 years ago and now is a major event on the Carnival calendar.

Yesterday, in a statement contained in a media release from Singh’s office, Atherly who for the first time is promoting a chutney soca monarch competition has been asked, “to desist from advertising this event under this name (The National Chutney Soca Monarch) or banner immediately as you are infringing on our rights, and can do irreparable damage to the reputation of this event.”

Singh complained that Chutney Soca Monarch is a registered name to Southex and the trade name distinguishes “our show” from any other chutney soca competition. The use of the name “National Chutney Soca Monarch”, Singh stated, amounts “to a passing off of your show as ours.”

Singh said the matter has been referred to his lawyers and threatened to take whatever is necessary to protect the “trade name” A copy of the Singh’s statement has been sent to his lawyers Mungalsingh & Company of San Fernando.

But when contacted yesterday Atherly told Newsday that nothing was done by him as a promoter to infringe on Singh’s event “in any way.” Atherly added: “We are being made scapegoats.”

“We are the National Carnival Chutney Soca Monarch Competition and we are promoting our show as such. We also focus on the three S’s which is ‘South Super Saturday’ so I can’t see with all those names being used to promote our show which comes one week later (February 18), just how could it interfere with the promotion of his show which comes off this weekend in Port-of-Spain,” Atherly said.

In response to Singh’s media statement, Atherly released one of his own in which he stated that the new competition has received the blessings of the National Chutney Foundation (NCFTT). Atherly stated that the NCFTT, “is willing to be represented in any court proceedings or any actions to prove and justify our claim.” The release said all advertisements in relation to the show should continue without fear of any breach of related laws.”