Veteran soca star Iwer George yesterday expressed surprise at a move by a US-based promotion group to sue him over reneging on a contract."This is something that could have been easily discussed and settled," Iwer, the three-time International Soca Monarch, said."I am saddened by this, because so many of us entertainers, through the years, have performed for promoters who didn't pay us, and not one of us has ever run to the media to accuse anyone of wrongdoing."
George's comments came after the New York-based Everybody's Magazine issued a press release saying it intended to take legal action against George and his associates over his alleged failure to appear at a June 5 concert.In the release, circulated via e-mail, the promotion group accused George, his manager Anson George and agent Larry Williams, of Bit Time Entertainment, of receiving partial payment to perform at the concert and failing to appear.
It stated: "We were trying to find out the explanation reason (sic) why Iwer George did not appear at the concert after the co-promoters paid him almost 50 per cent deposit fee, sent him the two round-trip airline tickets from T&T to NY and reserved two hotel rooms he requested in his contract."
While not giving details of the arrangement, George said he did not deal directly with Everybody's Magazine and his appearance at the event was dependent on his obtaining a work permit, which unfortunately he did not get."I don't know the editor of Everybody's Magazine...The only person I organised my business with for this event was Edwin Howell from VP Records," he said.
"He asked me to do the gig at a cut rate as they were trying to raise money for charity. I agreed and told them it would be dependent on my getting a work permit in time. I didn't."Anson George and Williams could not be reached for comment yesterday.