JaRIA ‘contemplating’ making a second award.

By Yasmine Peru/Gleaner Writer—

Chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), Ewan Simpson, is emphasizing that his organization “is not prepared to get involved” in an altercation between the widow of Sugar Minott, Maxine Stowe, and some of his children over a trophy which was awarded by the association at its red carpet gala ceremony on April 10. The late Sugar Minott was honored with a mentorship award for his commitment to youth development.

At the crux of the matter is the fact that there is only one trophy, but both parties have claimed first dibs on it, but so far there has been one victor – the children who now have it in their possession at Minott’s house on Robert Crescent in Kingston. Stowe has since sent a letter of protest to JaRIA.

On the night of the JaRIA Awards at Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, Stowe, Sugar Minott’s daughter Pashon Minott, as well as other children and grandchildren of the veteran artiste, all took to the stage when they were called out to receive the award. It was obvious, even to the blind, that there was tension during the trophy presentation which saw two of the contenders quietly holding tightly on to the trophy and refusing to let go. There was also a mic grab which left mouths agape. The anticipated mic drop didn’t z, instead it was passed seamlessly to Stowe.

Part two of the drama played out in the reception area between Stowe and another of Minott’s daughters, who told her that she and other family members wanted to take pictures with the JaRIA award and questioned why Stowe was leaving with it when “her name wasn’t on it”.

“I was sitting inside watching the show because it was so interesting and then somebody came and told me that my sister and Maxine were having an altercation,” Pashon told The Sunday Gleaner. “I went out there and was told that the grandkids wanted to take a picture but Maxine was leaving with the trophy. I didn’t see why they couldn’t get pictures with it. Anyway, they eventually got to take the pictures and after that the trophy wasn’t returned to Maxine. It is at 1 Robert Crescent where the studio and my dad’s other trophies are.” On Thursday, Pashon took to Instagram to speak publicly about the incident and other issues, and her words have grabbed the attention of the industry.

“It’s not just about the JaRIA Awards, which I am grateful for. Over the years since daddy passed, there has been so much going on and I have been keeping it in and it has made me depressed. I never want to do anything that would embarrass my dad. But I have to talk now, and the response has been encouraging. Everything I said was the truth, and as dem seh, I have my receipts. I have proof,” Pashon said.

Stowe has not watched the video, but she has heard about it and she is ruffled. “I am being labelled a villain and a witch by people because of my knowledge,” Stowe, whose credits in the industry are massive, having worked with big name record companies and megastar artistes.

She pointed out that “there is no unity in the family” and that an upcoming court case later this week should settle some issues.

“I thought about reporting it to the police, because it is robbery,” Stowe told The Sunday Gleaner of the trophy. “But instead I sent a letter to JaRIA asking them, through their relationship with Sugar’s daughter, to retrieve the award and also to sanction her.”

She also has questions about why Pashon and seven other people were allowed on the stage when backstage said one person per awardee, and why she was only told that they would be there when she arrived at the venue.

JaRIA board member with responsibility for the awards, Mary Isaacs, confirmed the receipt of the letter from Stowe, but could not comment on the contents.

“I saw the letter. All I have to say is that initially I contacted Maxine and then Pashon about Sugar Minott’s award. And on every correspondence they were both copied, so each knew that the other would be there,” Isaacs said.

Stowe shared that although there has been no formal response to her letter, she was told that Simpson was considering making a second award to give to her. Simpson emphasized, however, that for now it is just a discussion and that JaRIA has adopted a hands-off approach.

“Whatever transpired between Maxine and the children of Sugar Minott is a private matter and JaRIA is not prepared to get involved in it. The award was presented to both parties and we are not prepared to become arbitrators. Internally, we are having informal discussion about a second award, and we have to be very careful here so as not to set a precedent. It is being contemplated as a resolution, it is not a discussion that has been formally brought to the board,” Simpson said.