A contract dispute has led to the controversial resignation of Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby committee member Owen Cann, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Gina Tucker, the race committee president, has confirmed that Cann, the son of late race co-founder Berwyn Cann, has stepped down from his post.

Cann declined to speak on the matter, but it is understood that he resigned in protest at the terms of a one-year contract that the committee signed with Bermuda Broadcasting Company in the lead-up to this year’s race.

“Owen has resigned at this time from the committee but he doesn’t know what the agreement was because he never saw it,” Tucker said.

“He knew nothing of it because he has not attended any meetings and despite being on the communication he has not read anything.

“I am not saying that I am in agreement with it, either, because it is a committee decision. So if somebody wants to be involved and have a say in something, it’s important for them to be involved. It’s important for people that want to have a say in something to be involved in a process and to be fully aware and engaged in discussions and deliberations.

“I am not saying I agree with the contract, but it’s nobody’s business if I agree because the committee determined it. I don’t know what he disagrees with because he never engaged in a conversation around the contract.

“He never came to meetings and any disagreement with anything requires that the person be engaged and involved in the deliberation and discussions, and you do not know if I agree or disagree because the committee agreed.

“The outcome of the deliberations and discussion and engagement resulted in a one-year contract. This is not for life, so I don’t what he is disagreeing with. It’s a one-year contract which could look very different tomorrow.”

Tucker also said the decision by Bermuda Broadcasting’s commentary team to stop filming race leader Dennis Mbelenzi, who was deemed ineligible for prizes and placement as a non-resident, from their lead vehicle during the event did not breach any terms of the contract between both parties.

“They were fully aware of Dennis being in this race and his potential and so they were fully aware of the possibility of this happening,” she added. “So there was no breaking of the contract there or agreement, if you will.”

Bermuda’s Lamont Marshall was declared the official race winner as per race rules despite crossing the finish line in second behind Mbelenzi.

Tucker and her fellow committee members have since come under heavy criticism for allowing Mbelenzi to compete but not receive any award for his effort.

“He was official but just wasn’t eligible for prizes and placement,” Tucker said.

“He did not run unofficial. Unofficial people have no bibs on, so he was an official runner. However, he was not eligible and there was several people in the race in that regard.

“We have visitors come who are not eligible for prizes and it just so happens that he was a front-runner. Visitors are fully aware that they’re not eligible for prizes or placement. It’s not a big deal.”

The controversy evoked memories of the 1979 race won by Swiss runner Karl Kupferschmit, who was later declared as the first visitor to cross the line and second-place finisher Gary Wilkinson named the Bermudian winner after a forum was held over the matter.

Tucker insists the fallout from the ongoing controversy has failed to put a damper on this year’s race.

“In no way has this put a damper on the race and it’s only the people that want to do that,” she added.

“Lamont is our winner and it’s time for Bermuda to celebrate our Bermudian runner who was eligible as our official winner. I am not sour. We grow from strength to strength and this is not the first time anything like this has happened.

“It’s the first time in my tenure but not the first time in the Derby’s history. So we will look to ensure we find a way to prevent this kind of scenario from perhaps happening again and we have to determine what that looks like.

“It was a phenomenal day and we are very much focused on the magnitude of what happened and celebrate all of those that participated, volunteered and supported this event, and I recognise the committee that did a lot of hard work.”