International lineups worth the $25 – Trefor Grant

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee Trefor Grant said the artistes performing at the Emancipation Festival this year are worth the $25 admission fee that will be required to enter the festival villages on selected nights.

Patrons are usually expected to pay admission on nights when internationally-acclaimed artistes are scheduled to perform.

“When you look at the calibre of artistes that has been brought to festivities, there is nowhere you could really go to get that amount of entertainment…for $25,” Grant said, adding that the entry fee this year is in the same price range as last year.

The committee chairman further explained that charging an admission fee will help foot the cost of the festivities.

“There are festivals around the Caribbean that also do the same thing. It’s to defray the cost of putting on the festival itself. It helps in making sure that we could pay for the security that is being provided. It’s making sure that we could pay for good artistes for you to come out and enjoy yourselves,” added Grant.

Some residents, over the years, have complained that the admission fees are too high.