BVI News

Will you be attending Music Fest?

The stage area for the government’s Music Fest.

Amid calls for the cancellation of Music Fest 2024, the event will get underway tonight in Road Town, Tortola.

The three-day festival — which will feature a host of local, regional and international acts from various genres — has been criticised by some sections of the general public, who’ve expressed that the funds for the event could have been better spent on critical infrastructure that is falling apart in the territory.

The grounds behind the government’s administration complex have been prepped for patrons mainly from the community, although the government said international guests are also expected to fly in for the festival.

In an interview with JTV News, the Events Manager at the BVI Tourist Board, Dirk Walters said residents should support the festival despite the narrative that some are pushing to boycott the event.

“Everything has a starting point. This is a festival that is going to grow for years to come even when I’m no longer involved. So please don’t follow the narrative of whatever is going on. Support it because there is a trickle-down effect for the entire economy. We’re talking about ferries, hotels and car rentals, beverage distributors, restaurants, nail salons, service providers, etc,” Walters stated.

He also appealed for patrons to come out early and enjoy all the sights and sounds the event has to offer.

There have been numerous calls for the government to abandon the Music Fest and prioritize infrastructure upgrades such as those related to roads, water, electricity, port facilities as well as problems in health and education. 

Deputy Premier Lorna Smith also spoke out against the event, saying she expects receipts of expenditure and expected profits for the Music Fest.

Despite the dissenting voices, the Premier continues to maintain that Music Fest and other entertainment events will provide the revenue needed to address the infrastructure woes in the territory.

Premier Wheatley also received similar backlash last year, when he hosted the Non-Stop Concert in honour of the resumption of direct flights from the US to the BVI.

However, that event was well-supported by the community.

 

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31 Comments

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  1. maria louisa varlack says:

    is this parody among the british virgin islands government and politicians and legislative body. is this a form of intimidating and bullying?

    Like 10
    Dislike 3
  2. LB says:

    Absolutely Not!

    Like 25
    Dislike 3
  3. Wow! says:

    Money down the drain again!

    Like 34
    Dislike 3
  4. HELL NO says:

    NOT EVEN IF IT WAS FREE….NOT A GOOD LINE UP

    Like 29
    Dislike 4
  5. I boycotting says:

    Along with Cindy, Cline and the minority caring bvislanders

    Like 24
    Dislike 5
  6. Reality Check says:

    National Parks Trust lost $750,000 on their music festival in QE II park, and this festival will lose more than that.
    The location allows people to enjoy the music from the comfort of their boats, the day-boats will be packed with people enjoying covered comfort and libation facilities, so how many tickets are actually going to be sold to stand in a mud puddle!!
    Music Fest in Cane Garden touted filling every available hotel room, but that was because they were obligated to provide them to all of the acts and support people, undoubtedly the same contractual obligations for this one.
    This government needs to provide the full-disclosure financials for this event!!!

    Like 33
    Dislike 1
  7. Bully Madness says:

    The amount of rain that might fall weekend it rough deciding.

    Like 11
    Dislike 2
  8. O brother says:

    NOT ONE PENNY PHONZIE SCHEME PLAYING OUT RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES

    Like 10
  9. Nah Man says:

    As long as the High School Floods, the Hospital is underfunded, the roads are Bragadam-dam-dam and the water and power don’t flow this is NOT what government should be spending money on.

    Like 37
    Dislike 1
  10. Only explanation says:

    for a music festival this weekend is so the VIP can throw their final party with the BVI Treasury’s money. Direct UK rule commences next weekend so they will all be unemployed come June’24.

    Like 23
    Dislike 2
  11. Resident says:

    hell to the no

    Like 9
    Dislike 1
  12. What!!! says:

    Total waste of our money.
    Why couldn’t it have been held at the festival grounds??
    Cronies would not have had to be paid to make a new venue?

    Like 29
  13. Nope! says:

    They cant pay me to attend!

    Like 20
  14. My take says:

    Even though you may not care for Cindy. She is right. This premier is laughing at all of us. He was told not to do the $250,000 party he went right ahead. That’s sticking his middle finger at us. He was told this music fest is not necessary. Guess what yes he did it again. I am so pixxed that words cannot be enough. The other day I drop so hard in a pot hole I swear my vehicle mash up but they found asphalt to pave a road that was not priority at this time. How much more do residents need to see that this govt only care about themselves. They will continue to stick their middle finger up. And alyo who go deserve it.

    Like 41
  15. Stop crying! says:

    Well whether we like this event or not it’s too late to stop it now. Let’s just be positive minded and hope it’s going to turn out well and no flood rains or flop of the event happens.I personally feel that the government priorities are muddled but at the end of the day we the people voted this government in power and have to trust and see what they can do at least until next election!

    Like 7
    Dislike 23
  16. Mrs Tubman says:

    No!

  17. Tax paying, hard working citizen says:

    I couldn’t even go if I wanted to, the roads are so bad. How do you expect people to buy tickets when they can’t even make it to the event!

    Like 7
    Dislike 2
  18. Taxpayer says:

    No, I will not be attending but it is my money that is being wasted

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  19. silent majority says:

    You seen the traffic. Crazy.

  20. Opposition says:

    And once again this useless government are spending our money again on an event that’s costing over 250K. They don’t care about their Virgin Islanders. They know the roads are a mess they don’t care. Norwegian have pulled out .. the Government doesn’t care . The COI was brought in by Fahie … not the UK. Fahie asked them to come to investigate the NDP. And this Premier is sprouting off about the UK COI .. it was your boss that brought them in .. or do you have amnesia ?? You forget about us . In your one year of being in the government you have been useless!! You have done nothing for this country.. nothing. And anyone that’s reading this and you voted for the VIP… shame on you. You are part of the problem , you have caused this..

    Like 14
    Dislike 2
  21. Ruscle says:

    Nope! GREEN UP!!!!!

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  22. RAIN A COME says:

    NOPEEE!!!!!!!!!

    Like 1
    Dislike 0
  23. Fk says:

    So the tickets cost 100 and up

    In our economy with no price control, high rent, high internet bill, water cutting of after 6pm…

    Boi this government really truly don’t care

    Cancel this thing and get the country in shape

    Like 9
    Dislike 1
  24. Nope says:

    I’ll be in my bed watching Netflix and drinking wine.

  25. Can't attend says:

    With all the doctors offices jammed with resprito illnesses – Covid, colds, walking pneumonia, etc I suggest anyone who goes take a mask and hand sanitizer. I’m not a hater, I just hate the game. I didn’t vote for these people. I think they are doing a pass poor job. But let’s get real. Lorna went where she was invited. She was the last pick, but she got picked. Meanwhile back at the ranch the rest of them couldn’t get their heads out their collective male asses because everybody wanted to be Premier. So while the current government couldn’t care less about us, neither did the others. They put themselves squarely first. So let’s just get real. We will suffer the slings and arrows and the indifference to the needs of the people and if the #1 guy thinks he didn’t hear enough reggae or whatever genre he favors and he wants another music fest every weekend until festival we’ll get them. Be careful out there people.

  26. Virgin Islands Protester says:

    I support the return of the Virgin Islands Music Fest but not at this time. We have more important issues to address in this country. Boycott the fest and send a message to the Government so that they can put their priorities in the right order.

  27. Friday 10.45pm says:

    I counting 2 people? Or does it start tomorrow?

  28. Change Is Needed says:

    It’s absolutely heart wrenching to see so much money being poured down the drain. It’s time for our citizens to let or elected ‘servants’ know that they are being paid lofty salaries to improve living conditions for all of us.

    In my opinion, our last 4 governments have been total failures and it’s only getting worse. Where is the progress? As voters, we have been doing a horrible job of electing good leaders and demanding accountability. What we need to do is send a strong message by completely boycotting the polls during elections. VIP/NDP/ whatever P they call themselves, are the same tired players playing the same old game year after year.

  29. Marco says:

    I’m not boycotting it! I’ll attend on Monday night

  30. No suh says:

    There’s no parking in Road Town. Tola is officially a sh*thole. I’m embarrassed to bring anyone from the states back home with me after I spoke so highly of where I’m from. Fix the traffic and parking issues before anything. Shameful government.

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