LETTER TO EDITOR
As the constitutionally elected president of the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association, it is my duty to address rumors circulating regarding the music sector stipend which was distributed a few weeks ago. It is my understanding that persons have entered into agreements with Mr. Jean Eric Smith regarding mandatory membership fees being deducted from the stipend proceeds.
If this is indeed the case, I would like to remind the music community as well as the public at large, that Mr. Smith no longer represents the interests of the majority of the CMEA membership nor does he have the authority to conduct business without the consent and approval of the music association's executive committee. Any agreements that cannot be verified with signed minutes of an executive committee meeting approving the details of said transaction should be considered null and void.
Frequent reference has been made to an erroneous letter written by the Registrar of Companies confirming Mr. Smith as the current president of the music association. This letter is not based on any facts or documentation contained in the association's document package held with the ROC.
We are in the process of filing a complaint letter to address this as the registrar's lack of procedural competence has prevented us from being recognized as the only constitutionally valid executive committee.
In a time such as this, it baffles me that any non-profit organization would demand membership fees from any of its members when those funds could be going towards feeding their families as this was the stipends' intended purpose.
I urge any music sector stipend recipient who has been affected by this to contact me immediately to have this nonsensical situation resolved.
Michael Wilks
President – Cayman Islands Music Association
NOTE:
Musicians across the Cayman Islands will soon receive much needed financial assistance through a partnership between the Cayman Islands Government and the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association (“CMEA”).
The Ministry of Culture provided musicians a one-time stipend of CI$1,000. Musicians should contact the Ministry of Culture (“Ministry”) by emailing [email protected] or calling 936-2369 for more information.
This current emergency disbursement in aid of local musicians is estimated to exceed CI$100,000.
This stipend will only be available to local performing artists, and per CMEA guidelines does not include recording artists, which outlines the order in which the funds should be disbursed, following a needs-based structure.
• CMEA Veterans
• Full-time performing musicians and Djs
• Part-time musicians and Djs
• Non-consistent performers
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid