No reports yet on festival financials — Premier
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has revealed that reports on the Music Fest and the August Festival held earlier this year remain unavailable.
Speaking at a recent press conference, the Premier said he was unaware of any updates regarding financials for these events.
“I have to check with the Permanent Secretary on that,” Dr Wheatley said. “There may have been an email about perhaps, maybe, the Easter festival, but I don’t recall receiving a full report for all the festivals.”
The revelation comes months after Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee (VIFFC) Chair Dirk Walters assured residents that some reports were already being compiled and suggested that others could be expected soon. Walters, who also serves as Events Manager at the BVI Tourist Board, commented that obtaining financials would be faster this year.
“We rely on [subcommittees] to submit their reports. Of course, the financials… for the most part are in, but of course, there are just a few committees that submitted invoices a bit late,” he said on the Talking Points show in September.
Critics, including cultural icon Eileene Parsons, questioned the VIFFC’s operational structure since its integration into the Tourist Board. Parsons expressed concern that the move would diminish the committee’s autonomy and efficiency. Walters echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the VIFFC needs more independence to function effectively. “You need to have an autonomous body, at least a division… similar to how Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs was or is,” he said.
Questions raised
Despite assurances of transparency, the lack of timely financial reporting has raised questions. Reports indicate the festival’s budget was approximately $1.6 million, while the Music Fest cost an estimated $1 million after an initial $700,000 government subvention. The substantial expenditure and low turnout at some events have drawn heavy criticism from the public.
In the meantime, Dr Wheatley has committed to ensuring transparency and improving Festival planning. “I’m asking the Tourist Board to go ahead and do a press conference and present all of that information to the public,” he stated.
Walters highlighted systemic challenges, calling for better infrastructure and planning. He cited examples from Anguilla and St Martin, which have permanent festival venues. “We should fund [the Festival] adequately and make sure this thing happens,” he said.
He also advocated for more transparency, noting that suspicion naturally arises with the public without timely information. “We just have to make sure and be mindful and educate the public,” Walters said while commenting that there should be more regular discourse with the public.
“It’s human nature. I, myself, I will question things if I feel like you’re delaying things or you’re trying to hide something,” he added. “The longer you take to provide information publicly, it will make it seem to some persons, like, hey, maybe something is amiss.”
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why are you not fired, is the real question.
The place a joke. Nobody going to get in trouble for this. Why so many months later the finance minister still can’t get the numbers from festival. Everything is going to forever be backwards or get half do or not do at all once this culture of sweeping things under the rug and not holding anyone accountable continues.
My follow up question would have been so whoever job it was to produce this report; why they still have a job!? Is like how can you be so nonchalant about this level of mediocrity.
and more lies after lies
This is not a serious government. Rather, it’s all about how much money some who are well-connected can plunder from the fisc. This lack of transparency is the same as the vaunted “business case” for the airport expansion project, in that now the business case will be completed AFTER the project is given the green light – rendering it a meaniningless exercise.
..there won’t be any report…No accounting for the loss and thievery..simply put:just lies and gobbledeg**k from the moron of a Premier.
Any suggestions or advice on one’s preparation for the inevitable grim future of these VI ?
We only moved fast for approving parties flights and paying rent out to friends and family anything else can wait or never happen
But hey independence then say
So now that you are paying people to do the job, the job still is not done on time?
But they out here doing other events?
and now the implementation of higher minimum wage is “Postponed”… are we really still surprised any more, This is pathetic.
He ain care about no financial report. If it was the person who books his flights and hotels was messing up this bad he was going to already get rid of them I bet.
AL-YO CALL HIM ( SLO ) THATS A MESSSGE THERE , THE HYPOCRITES VAMONGS US IS BLAMING THE WHITE SLAVE MASTERS FOR EVERYTHING UNDER YHE SUN / WHO AIN’T PREACHING IT SINGING IT , AND WE STILL EXPECT BETTER ❓️ ARE WE THAT STUPID OR JUST A SET OF HYPOCRITES ❓️ ( IN THE MEANTIME WE SETTING A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE FOR THE YOUTHS , THEY SHOOTING AT THE POLICE NOW , WHILE WE HAVE A CANARY BON THE YELLO SITE CALLING DOWN THE POLICE , WHICH IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL PLUS THROWING HIS USUAL RACILL INSULTS AT THE COMMISSIONER WHICH IS ENCOURAGING THE SAME YOUTHS TO BE LAWLESS
6-7 months later and no report? Not even a draft? It is already time to start planning for those 2025 events! But you haven’t debriefed or compiled the reports from 2024 to see what worked and what didn’t? Like Picko Moff said, they never even ran a candy shop before being thrust into these positions. How can we expect any better from them? It is our fault! Votes have consequences!
So Mr. Dirk Walters, what you have to say now?
All big talk about timely reporting now it’s in your hands and the Premier hasn’t received anything. Sad, just sad the mediocrity in this place.
I bet anyone $200.00 that we will never be told a truthful account of this guys music fest.