Festival Committee Vows To Get Funds Back from Queen Show Drop Out

St. John Festival and Cultural Organization members were not pleased last week with one St. John Festival Queen hopeful who dropped out just days before the pageant.

Contestant number three Kimberly Paul had been an early favorite as the sole St. John residents vying for the title of Festival Queen this year. While details of why Paul opted out of the show just a few days before Saturday night, June 25, remained unclear last week, Festival Organization members had a clear goal of their own.

Contestant Kimberly Paul dropped out just one week shy of the show

“We will be recouping the money we awarded to Kimberly as part of the Festival Queen Show preparations,” said Leona Smith, St. John Festival and Cultural Organization chairperson. “We will be contacting whatever authorities we must in order to recoup the funds from Kimberly. The money was for her to run for Queen and she dropped out so she has to give that money back.

Despite the lack of a contestant number three, the St. John Festival Queen Selection Show on June 25 at Winston Wells ball field was a huge success with Kinia Blyden taking home the crown.

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