Hi Tenchi,
Here are all the LCD connections.
Please check them all.
(Sorry i changed the color signification since last picture).
Check green point are linked together and to the ground.
Check red ones are 5V.
And that the grey/blue one (LCD pin 3) change when you turn the variable contrast resistor.
Then your multimeter into shortcut detector.
Check every orange connection from the CERB40 pins to the LCD pins on the other side.
And let me know the result,
Xavier