Festival may not cost the entire $1M gov’t subvention
The cost of this year’s emancipation festival may be much less than the one million dollars that was allotted to the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIFFC) and could possibly result in thousands of dollars in savings.
This is according to VIFFC Chair, Dirk Walters, who told the Talking Points show yesterday that there is a distinct possibility that the government may be able to achieve this outcome.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley recently revealed that the VIFFC benefitted from an additional $500,000 from a Schedule of Additional Provisions (SAP) prepared by the government after receiving a similar sum from the BVI Tourist Board. He also suggested that this year would offer a better gauge on the cost of running a festival of this nature.
But Walters pointed out that even with additional monies from the government, funds have to be spread across events in Road Town, East End/Long Look, Carrot Bay and Virgin Gorda.
“So it’s not just [events] for this week-and-a-half or two weeks of festival. Bear that in mind,” Walters said. “And it does not mean that in the end we would have spent a million dollars. I foresee that we could easily come out of this with money left over enough to do events coming up and even fundraisers and stuff like that.”
He explained that a significant amount was saved from last year’s festival and attributed this to the relationships that persons on the Committee had, both with persons throughout the community and abroad.
Walters also raised the issue of pageants hosted during the festival as contributing to the very expensive cost and said proposals were shared at one point for alternative venues to achieve cost savings. Several pageants have been held at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex over the years.
He said one suggestion was for pageants to be held at the Festival Village, but logistics issues meant that this would not be practical.
According to Walters, seating, staging and lighting at the Complex were just some of the factors that have to be considered, and he said these could easily cost in the region of $100,000. He also noted that such events do not usually result in a profit.
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It is alleged that this guy got this job and in return not run against a certain minister. Another candidate who was bought out refused to run in the district against the same minister and left his party compromising his friendship and partnership with the party’s chairman and is bitter today saying why he didn’t win.
One was allegedly given funds for rental space the other the treasury to hold concerts. His forefathers who marched for liberty for this country, especially from the leeward islands federation would be so disappointed. allegedly. Back in the day we used to spend less and enjoy ourselves more.
We had ever find out what the final cost of the non stop jam was?
ONE MILLION DOLLARS, for Festival, while some seniors do not have enough money to buy food, electricity, internet and gas? Social Security monies were given away by this Government to their friends, 40 Million if I remember correctly. But those who paid it in get to starve and struggle while this government pushes expensive parties and neglects the basics of life in the BVI. God is watching.
It won’t matter what it cost because they are never going to produce a set of auditable accounts for anyone to see.
We need to build the local brand of music and entertainers to a standard that can run festival. St. Vincent. St. Kitts etc these countries bring in no more than two foreign entertainers for their carnival because their locals are at a standard to hold it down..Sorry to say, here in the BVI greed killing everything, every artist musician wants to go solo to get more while killing the standard. in late 80s and 90s we were making great progress, we had Ecstacy, Prime time, Splash,Ritical, Sister Joyce, That long look Reggae Band Extreme, Adjic, Show-Time, Brassarama, high standard calypso shows and they were holding it down, packing the village. The failure back then was the committee refused to pay locals properly, I remember hearing a band leader saying he was paid $400.00. But he was glad for the exposure, but that was nothing, bands couldn’t improved their system and get better System,(to be a good band and sound like a good band you need a good system and committed musicians.) Musicians wasn’t compensated properly and all these cases were brought to the committee, but were ignored, while locals bands were being paid 4-5-6 hundred dollars, foreign bands were paid 6-8-10 thousand dollars with all expenses paid..The Committee of the past killed local bands and entertainers frustrate them, oppress them. No wonder bands now are very Few and small because the money is small, can’t even add brass..Cool session playing tonight and I am going just to hear the sound of Brass, thats the only night I am going. Without brass, all the bands sounds monatonous and a like, hear one you hear all..How can we back our glory and our high standard?
Festival has already reached a 1.2 million dollar mark. That’s info from the inside and it’s projected to exceed 2 million.
festivals have long since lost their true meaning, what it has become is a waste of time that glorifies vulgarity and depravity and that among many other reasons is why the bvi is a sinking ship
Hush you ra**!
Usually cause more people to leave Tortola to holiday elsewhere rather than visit Tortola.
If money is left over don’t charge to come in the village.
Well I suggest if you have change leave over provide assistance to the troupes, by giving each one a truck and generator or at least the money to do so.
We all know that any left overs will be pocketed.
The BVI is the only country in the Caribbean where it is more expensive to get a flight off island during festival than to get a flight to the island. Is that because our festival is so bad or is there another reason?
Same artist playing elswehere gor cheaper
Troupes charging big money for costumes. they can afford a truck and a generator
Government under budget, LOLOLOLOLOLOL!
We getting rip off from govt each and everyday. Everything is about collecting money from poor ppl. Set ah vampires! Look right next door Stt. U.S.V.I. festival village entertainment was free every night and they had the best line up…For free!!!
Something up with this BVI govt dehman for real!
cash tity for a few corrupts.
40 dollars for whelks and 40 for entry means i aint going
Water turning off every night but we got 1 million for party
What is his cutback
Imagine if somebody make you pay for a party then charge you to enter.
D**key of the day.