Premier unsure if YOLO promoters given more funds for Kartel concert
The government has faced renewed scrutiny over financial support for the Vybz Kartel concert, with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley unable to confirm whether additional funds were allocated to event organisers YOLO Promotions.
During a recent press conference, Dr Wheatley was pressed on whether the BVI Tourist Board had provided an additional $50,000 to YOLO Promotions, despite prior assurances that no further government funds would be given beyond the initial sponsorship.
“I’m not aware of them being given anything else,” Dr Wheatley said. “I’d have to double-check on that.” He noted that the Tourist Board independently provides sponsorship for events but did not confirm at the time, whether additional funds had been approved.
“Typically, the tourist board does provide sponsorship on their own for events,” he said. “Persons write to the Tourist Board, they request money. So I would have to check with the Tourist Board to see if they’ve given YOLO any additional money.”
The government’s initial $220,000 sponsorship of the event, revealed last year, sparked intense controversy. Critics, including members of the parliamentary opposition, argued that public funds should not be used to support an event featuring a dancehall artiste who previously served time in prison. Last year, the UK-based Privy Council dismissed the murder charges against Kartel on appeal.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton previously questioned the expenditure, pointing to financial shortfalls in other areas of government. “We have people suffering, but we’re spending money on a concert. It does not make sense,” he argued in a House of Assembly debate last year.
Former Deputy Premier Lorna Smith also distanced herself from the decision. Despite criticism, Dr Wheatley has defended the investment, arguing that the concert will stimulate the local economy.
“Most likely, the same money that the government put in sponsorship to help make the show a reality, the government will get back that money in taxes,” he said previously.
Event promoter Steve Parillon of YOLO Promotions also defended the government’s role, stating that the funding benefits multiple sectors. “This is an investment to the country. This money is not going into our pockets,” he said in an earlier interview.
Parillon previously disclosed that he “pressured” the Premier into investing funds into the venture, despite the prospect of a public outcry about the funding. “I don’t want people to think this is the Premier’s idea. It was not the Premier’s idea. I persuaded the Premier, you understand? I persuaded him. I pressured him.” Parillon said at the time.
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What he means he is not aware? He would be the one approving the money. Father God please deliver the BVI from these imbeciles.
the accidental premier is providing amusements for the mob..
Hail Caesar
You can’t call him accidental no more you have to say BVI voters stupid to let him end back up as premier again now they have to reap what they sow. The man on his second term twice is not no accident.
An u wonder why the country is is in the current condition too much negative an fight so what a ghetto youth suppose to do?whatever money was given lm sure it was returned with profit .
Bread and Circuses
Please learn from this mis step- dont double down it is a losing proposition – if you want to support someting like this use your influence and persuade private investors. Self awarwness is one of the best comepntencies of true leadership.
Who at Tourism is authorised to send $5ok without the ministers approval? Something don’t smell right.Slow-Andy not aware…again.
COI please note. Don’t lift that Order in Council just yet.
Tourist Board family and friends slush fund back in business again.
Who checking that credit card or cheque account statements?
Check this out this is what our government is spending money on, check the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhoFd-5WE0Y
Dear God Help us
Well eh eh, the big man is unsure? What kind of thing is this? The clout chasing promoter got the rest of the money from the criminal element in the BVI and the lady who had the fabulous Birthday party.
lol, did you all not see the clout chaser posing like a frog on a rock at the famous birthday party?
Just in case you guys are a bit slow, that answer is YES! He is buying time so that by time the show is over and everyone would’ve enjoyed themselves, it would be too late to call him out on the spend. I’m certain that they sent extra money and it was probably more than $50K. I firmly believe that the BVI is on the hook for over $300K on this show already. Pure f**king nonsense.
That is the plan all along because the Premier seems to think we are all deaf, dumb and blind and will fall for the BS. Well Premier, your cards have been peeped. Yes we have some deaf, dumb and blind people who will fall for the BS but not everyone
YOLO AND MCMILLI WHERE THE MONEY CAME AND IS COMING FROM.
WEST BANK WSI
It will not shock nor surprise me if they make arrangements to sneak WB out of camp cupcake the night of the concert to see the show from somewhere in the dark and then sneak him back to camp cupcake after the show since he is picking up the tab. Something to think about since they be doing all kind of shady illegal things under the cover of darkness on the Island.
THE NORM ON THIS LITTLE DOT IN THE MIDDLE OF OCEAN SITTING ON A VOLCANO ROCK IS PEOPLE TREAT THE WRONG RIGHT AND THE RIGHT PEOPLE WRONG.THE BVI WILL ALWAYS BE THE LAUGHING STOCKS TO OUTSIDE. NOTHING BUT A SET OF INCOMPETENT IMBECILES BUSH PEOPLE.
The Premier is thinking he should have followed his instinct when he decided to give away the tax payers money to YOLO.
The accidental i**pt nonfunctional Premier is giving away tax payers money to sponsor criminals. Hope the night of the concert the skies open up and flood the whole thing out.
For real, hope the rain start from the night before the concert and the next day and wash the whole thing out. Y the way, who gives a damn if they are giving away $10,000 the night of the concert. Donate the damn $10.000 to a charity.
I know lol of people win murder case and people look down at them but dis island man is a king in Tortola, Dr n w u need gun shot
Wish the premier would put several hundred thousand dollars into my personal / private business.
Everything Steve put his hands on does flop.
Flop ain’t the word no matter how he and the rest of them trying to hipe s up about people from all over coming and the YADA YADA IT IS GOING TO BE A FLOP. I HAVE MONEY RIDING ON THIS.
You got me rolling with laugh. We will see the real flop this time. It’s the truth the promoter is definitely a clout chaser.
The biggest ritual to date how ayo Jesus able to take off what that characters bringing in on this upcoming full moon lawdd ayo slow n fool fool in this place
Well, Well, and some of you all still want Order in Council Lifted? We need Fresh Elections like NOW!!!
This Ting needs to be gone like yesterday!!! Opposition Members Please get the People alongside you and let us March down to Government House!!! Myron Leh we do dis Ting!!!!Mitch, Don’t Snitch!! Mather NOW not Later!!! VIP Gotta GO!!!!! I hope We are not paying for a Double and a Single Hotel Rooms in Grenada this time around….Ha! Ha! Ha!
This dance won’t pay for the lights.
He is unsure because it is more than $50k and closer to another $220k! Plus what West is contributing. So our government is spending tax payers dollars to bring a convicted murderer who convinced a generation to hate their own skin color and preys on women to be on our stage, while the same government is partnering with a known criminal organization to bring this murderer. Meanwhile trying to convince our own young people to put down their guns and stop the shooting and killing here. Sowande is saying to do what he and the COP says but not what he actually does. Which is to support killers, shooters, guns and criminal organizations! Hypocritical
Why would the Education Minister and other Officials advocate for Better Behaviour in Schools when her own Leader is associating himself with Criminal Elements? What example is he setting for the Young Children of the BVI? What is the difference between what I am doing and what he is encouraging? I must have a conversation with my Counterparts in the United Kingdom. People of the BVI, Make BVI Great Again!!! You All Know What To Do!!!
They had to drop the charges..Only Privy can do that so he could seek medical attention.Dont look that sick to me.He get of Scott free..well done Mr Palmer.Chinese vex in Jamaica ..say them poster boy stop bleach..killing sales…lol.
So correct, the Premier supports criminal behavior like his old boss that is sitting with the Feds for eleven years. If a group of struggling working tax paying mothers go to the Premier and ask him for some type of monetary assistance to feed their children he will refuse them but, he can dip his hand in the people’s money to give a cr**ked shi**y promoter to keep a gangster concert. The wrong that a man does will be his karma from the Universe.
Milk them for all they are worth. The BVI is the big fat milking cow of the Caribbean and have nothing to show.
Like the Covid grants, the promoter will be receiving from all branches of government, with no need to pay back or account for a dime.
Shameful!
The old people have a saying… If you find an a** then ride it.
Maybe Vybez suprise us all, and give back that money and then some to de “sufferers” and those in need ?? Yuh neva know ?? Bless up and respect
How can dis ras ole be ❓️❓️
That man looks like a he stand up like a handicap big belly frog the queen turned him in to a I’m out
My cat’s kill a frog it looks just like cartel
Maybe the chemicals in the bleaching cream he was using is the cause of his medical problem. Look at Sammy Sosa before and after pictures and see how the skin bleaching cream and skin peeling mess him up.
West sponsoring this too?
#popcaan
We just had 17 yr old arrested for assualt rifles. I guess he gonna be excited to see vybz Kartel come perform with his peers while the government continues to promote artist and songs relating to sex drugs, violence and crime.
Nothing to see here folks
At how the Premier as my grandmother say allow a promoter to swindle him out of the tax payers money that could have been spent on something more important. Big shame on you Premier. Y’all, the Premier knows he is under fire for this big mistake.
So wait. You FOOLS giving him OUR money for him to come HERE and CHARGE US to go HIS show?
And you going make back the money from taxing us again?
What??
The duppy strong in this place.
Yell selling we out for this bullfrog looking mf.
A set a like man alyo look like.
We not Jamaican, leave that for them. Them like light them crotch on fire when dancing and all kinda jumping off speaker on top a woman nonsense. Glorifying a well know murderer and pedophile. Big man talking bout taking away Lil girl virginity.
Every one of you who know what you doing going end up JAIL with Andrew!!
so the government footing the bill and it still costing you over a hundred dollars to go to this thing. set a clowns give away tax dollars and couldn’t even negotiate to keep the ticket price reasonable.
Central Government didn’t do. I gave the monies to TB to give as it wouldn’t be me it would be them. Same VIP playbook I used from Fahie. You think Frazier ain’t advising me right. Now you all shut up before they decide to do another COI. We will make back the money from the charter industry fee hikes
Atleast spell Fraser right if you going impersonate somebody
Friser needs to go.
Murder music is a thing down here.