Mc Kenzie facing $200,000 judgment

Samaroo’s Ltd, a leading Carnival supplier on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, has taken up judgment against Mc Kenzie in the sum of $180,860 along with costs to be taxed.

Samaroo’s filed a writ in the High Court on September 6, 2005, claiming $180,860.62 being the price of certain goods sold and delivered to Mc Kenzie during the period September 15, 2004, and February 10, 2005. But Mc Kenzie was not served with the writ until December 8 at 9.56 pm at Four Roads, Diego Martin.

Despite service, Mc Kenzie failed to enter a defence. As a result, Samaroo’s entered judgment for the sum along with costs to be taxed. Yesterday, Steve Samaroo, managing director of Samaroo’s, told Newsday that it was unfortunate that legal action had to be taken against Mc Kenzie.

Samaroo said he normally supplied the "Legends" band with goods when Mc Kenzie and Mike "Big Mike" Antoine were partners. "There was no problem, they got credit and I got paid at the right time."

Samaroo said Mc Kenzie and Antoine split up after the 2004 Carnival season. Mc Kenzie then formed his own band in the later part of 2004. Samaroo said he extended the same line of credit to Mc Kenzie as he had done with Legends on previous occasions.

Samaroo said after the 2005 Carnival season, he called on Mc Kenzie to pay the $180,860. He said a letter dated March 22, 2005, was sent to Mc Kenzie asking that post-dated cheques be made to cover the money owed. He had given Mc Kenzie between May 15 to August 31, 2005, to pay off the money owed. He said Mc Kenzie never responded to that letter.

"It was only after the deadline passed and the money wasn’t paid, that I decided that I would take legal action to recover the money," Samaroo told Newsday. The writ was filed by attorney Peter Wharton.

Mc Kenzie and his wife Nina are producing "Festivals of the World" in the large band category for the Parade of the Bands. Their mas camp is situated at Picton Street, Newtown.