Choc'late weeps over sponsor pullout

Danah backlash
Kimberly Castillo

CHOC'LATE Allen broke down in tears at the "100% Crime Free" Youth Motivational Awards at the Valpark Chinese Restaurant yesterday.

Allen's tears came as she said many sponsors for the ceremony, which should have been a "grand occasion" to pay recognition to six youth motivators, had "pulled out" due to what she called "false reports in the media".

She also accused the public of showing double standards and "punishing" her and the committee for choosing Danah Alleyne as one of the recipients of an award.

There had been a public outcry last week, after the committee announced that Alleyne had been chosen for an award.

Many felt that selecting Alleyne, who came into the public eye after engaging in a lewd dance act with R&B star Akon at the Zen nightclub in April, was sending the wrong signal to the youth of the country.

But Allen stoutly defended the choice, saying they chose Alleyne not for the act she committed, but for the manner in which she handled it afterwards.

Alleyne was on hand yesterday to receive her prize from the committee for being a "perfect motivation to both parents and children".

Alleyne said she thought about declining the award because of the negative publicity that arose from the Zen incident.

However, she said to decline the award would have meant "defeat and cowardice" on her part.
She said she wanted the youths out there who have been through bad experiences like herself to "rise up and move forward".

Other recipients of awards were academic achiever Veera Bhajan, cricketer Adrian Barath, Carnival costume designer Alendra Bailey, squash player Josh Pinard and exemplary inmate at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) Anthony Garcia.

Wa the fock ah 100% Crime Free award for Danah Alleyne ?

To tell young people to disguise yuh self as over 18 to go nightclub and let some nigga roll yuh cont up all over the floor and den drop some african toti on yuh in the toilet.

And who is fockin Chocolate...lil fockin cont who feel she is God gift to the world?

Girl if you like to fantasize so much, why yuh do think about Veera fingering yuh cyat.

The sponsor and dem fockin right, yuh feel dey dotish like all niggas.