KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica National Culinary Team might not be able to make it to Hyatt Regency in Miami, Florida, to compete in this year’s Taste of the Caribbean.

This was revealed in a letter from the Culinary Federation of Jamaica late Thursday, after the Jamaica Tourist Board confirmed that it would not be sponsoring the team’s participation in this year’s competition, “as it does not satisfy the mandate of the board”.

According to the letter, the national team is slated to compete against nine other Caribbean teams and is to be in Miami from June 10-15.

“In the past the major sponsor of accommodation, airfare, entry fees, food, and transportation was the TEF (Tourism Enhancement Fund),” the letter read. “You can appreciate that the loss of this major sponsor has made it impossible at this stage to continue.

“As a non-profit organisation, the federation is not in a position to fund these individuals,” the letter continued.

It will cost each of the 15 team members J$282,309.93 to make the journey.

The Culinary Federation of Jamaica said some organisations have already come forward to sponsor individuals, however, because it is a team competition, all members have to participate.

The federation late Thursday appealed to other sponsors to assist if they can.

Last year, the Jamaican contingent that participated in Taste of the Caribbean copped eight awards: four gold medals, two silver and two bronze medals.