Music Fest site to be repurposed after event
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has defended the government’s investment in the Music Fest site, arguing that the venue will be repurposed for future events and community use.
In a recent interview, Dr Wheatley emphasised that the festival is a national event designed to boost the BVI’s tourism product and contribute to the economy.
“This is something designed to put the Virgin Islands in focus in terms of our tourism product [and] promoting it and if we grow the music festival, it can be something that can really bolster our economy for years to come,” Premier Wheatley said.
Amid calls for a boycott of the festival and criticism of the expenditure on the venue, Premier Wheatley urged residents to support the event and highlighted the long-term benefits it could bring. He compared boycotting the festival to boycotting national athletes or celebrations, stating it would ultimately harm the BVI more than anything.
The government disclosed that its initial investment in the music festival was approximately $750,000. However, critics have projected that additional work required to prepare the site may push the cost beyond $1 million.
The Premier acknowledged concerns about the extensive preparation work that was done at the venue but argued that the improvements were necessary and would benefit the community in the long run. He pointed to the previous state of the site as an “ugly mess” and emphasised that the cleaned-up space would be used for various events and generate revenue in the future.
“The space is going to be functional. It’s going to be a space I’m pretty sure that’s going to be rented out for different events. And it’s actually going to make money going into the future. So we believe it was the right thing to do,” Premier Wheatley explained.
The Premier’s comments come amidst reports of varying turnouts on the three nights of the music fest. While the opening night saw a smaller crowd, the second night attracted a larger audience and night-three was reported to be larger than the first night but not as large as the first. The festival concluded with a star-studded lineup featuring both local and international artistes.
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More excuses
After two rain events, all that leveled dirt will wash way. This was a waste of money. Our elected officials are some of the stupidest in the world. This story explains that
WTF this man get his doctorate from? This has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard. The treasury getting poorer whilst he counting the days towards his pension. Luarna in the Corna is to blame
Hit ‘like’ if you want to see the financial statements showing a break even or profit on this event.
He need clean up D7.
HE NEED TO FIX THE POTHOLES BY ROMNEY PENN MARINA
He needs to fix the hole of Joe’s Hill! (PUN INTENDED)
And the Hodges Creek area, he must a fly to town or sail every morning
Shame that he saw the site as an ugly mess when a bigger mess in the background that took two years to build but can’t be fixed after 7 years. Don’t think we can last 3 years under this leader. I guess he prefer rent paying.
well it is alleged in order for the Music man Derkey not to run against Ki a whole new portfolio was created to keep him quiet.
None of them better than the other. Dirky too full of himself and Kye just clueless
It was D***y who was constantly in the Premier ears of keeping the Music Festival, even though the Premier did not want it. Dirky, dont listen to a soul. This was evident from the first day he was hired. And this event here, drive the nail home. These people behave like they spending their personal money. Time longer than twine
Diddy had to have the balls to say no to something that the country ain’t need right now. Suppose somebody else tell Diddy let’s go again. Who has the power to say no
It will become a car park in dry weather and a mud lake during the next flood.
Despite the low turnout, the skimmers/scammers achieved their objective.
$1 million could have been used to repair the roads!
Another place to neglect (and display to our tourists), just like the QE2 park, our roads, our education system, our healthcare system, our law enforcement agencies, our democracy.
This form of governance has to go.
Remember the QE2 park for years was a dumping ground for dirt that the NDP used to pay its friends to truck from one location to the next. All of the elected officials we have voted for, VIP, Madam, PPIM etc are trash. They all are only about getting to the treasury dollars, always the dollars
We will choose you any day over the crazy girl who got arrested
My layman calculation results ..a BVI peoples loss at one million $1,000,000 plus US tax dollars directly taken and thrown away on the direction of the CARICOMERs while their brethren attempt to perpetrate an armed robbery at an establishment that has fed they and their country men for umpteenth years.
And the problem with the festival ground which we already have is???
Waiting to see an honest publication of financial figures. How much was spent including artists fees and site work etc. and how much was received from ticket sale plus whatever.
Thats easy. Tickets sold 2000 @ $100 = $200,000. Expenses circa $1,500,000 . What is worrying is extremely concerning is that the person presenting a $million loss to the taxpayer is our Minister of Finance
“Natalio defended the investment……”
Until it actually brings a return it’s just an expense.
But let’s not forget Natalio doesn’t know the first thing about finance, despite him being the finance minister.
A lovely spot for the island man dem to leave their old cars.
SO THE NEW DUMP SITE TO STORE DIRT/LANDFILL IS NOW BY THE CULTURAL CENTER?
Thank you for noticing because this keep going over everybody else head. At least somebody other than me notice that mess. This jerk move all the dirt from admin station and dump it by cultural center location. Nobody raising hell over this and it is acceptable for our government to do this pissery
This man fked up our money
Fix the damn dump!
What needs to be repurposed is the Big Youth!
in your haste to discriminate others , YOU 4GOT 2 SAY WHICH ISLAND \ OR YOU ARE IS IT YOU NOT AWARE THAT ( WE )
LIVE ON ONE ❓️ AND IF I MAY ADD , – WE ARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY – DUHHHHHH
It will become a storage lot for the politicians and their friends and be trashed in a year.
Racehorses on one
Infrastructure gone to hell – Have a NonStop Concert.
Education in shambles – Have a million dollar VI music Fest.
Public health and public safety in shambles – Next up, the 70 Emancipation flesh and feathers Festival.
All BRAMS which have no call being supported by by the public funds. BVI cant survive much more of this BRAGADAM foolishness. Send help Lord.
$750,000/$60= 12,500. That’s the number of tickets that needed to sell to maybe break even. GTFOH with this waste of taxpayer money.
If $750,000 @$60 a ticket is 12,500 attendees,
How much is $1,000,000+ (the actual spend) @60 dollars for some and $0dollars and popcorn cents for others who just needed to show up for head count and photo opp purposes?
Potentially the entire population?
Our elected Minister of Finance clearly has a math problem
Some people hav it pride for country and are OOk with “ ghetto style aesthetics For a tourist destination .the place looks really “run down” D7 and D8. Been the worse. In a lot of areas the bushes are creepin on the actual driving lanes.
Look at the entrance to our pride. The college massive crater ,overgrown bushes, jagged road edges on the marine side. How can a country with high gdp allows its infrastructure to be this horrible and intolerable
All you keep complaining on the blogs..Do something about it!.. For once why not you all organize and stand up against this government.
Give the million to Water & Sewerage we need water more than music festivals.
I booked a cruise from 2023 with Tortola as one of the ports of call because I visited many years ago and I always said that I would return at some stage. For this cruise, my biggest interest was because it was going to stop in Tortola. I also have a few friends I was planning to link up with for the day. I was disappointed that the destination was cancelled.
A friend who took the cruise weeks ago told me that in her excursion on the big open bus, she got alot of scratches from some prickly bush because she was sitting at the end seat. Her skin got really messed up. At least this is what she told me.
I am sorry I wouldn’t be in Tortola. The new cruise ship dock was not there when I last visited there and I was looking forward to seeing the developments to the island.
I hope everyone concerned does what it takes to keep your tourists coming back, whether hotel, yachts or cruise ships. Nothing is like a referral and people will always tell others about good or bad service they got from anywhere.
Cheers
The money made from the music fest can’t even pay for the ground’s preparation…………..THE DANCE CAN’T EVEN PAY FOR LIGHTS
“The government disclosed that its initial investment in the music festival was approximately $750,000. However, critics have projected that additional work required to prepare the site may push the cost beyond $1 million.”
Who approved this?