Wrong message! Opposition against government’s $250K concert
Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton has hammered the government over its proposed free concert to celebrate the arrival of American Airlines to the territory and said members of the opposition are not in favour of the move.
During a press conference last week, Premier and Minister of Tourism & Culture, Dr Natalio Wheatley, announced that the government was issuing a grant of $250,000 to the BVI Tourist Board to host the concert. The ‘non-stop free concert’, which is being headlined by R City from the neighbouring USVI, is expected to be held at Brandywine Bay on June 30.
But Skelton said in an interview with ZBVI Radio that he felt the quarter-million price tag on the concert is likely to balloon past the figure that the Premier announced.
Skelton said there are a number of problems affecting the territory, including roads that need fixing and government staff not being paid on time. He added that he was also recently made aware that the Adina Donovan Home for the elderly is leaking.
“They are a lot of people—a lot of our citizens are not having the resources to make ends meet,” Skelton said. “People are hurting basically, and for a government to keep a party, a free party… it sends the wrong signal to the citizenry of the country that the government really doesn’t care how they’re feeling and how they’re acting.”
What’s a li’l $250k?
During the announcement about the concert, Premier Wheatley offered some push back when questioned by a reporter about concerns over the cost of the event and why it may have warranted $250,000.
In response, Premier Wheatley made reference to the St Kitts Music Festival, which he said will be held later this month and will be attended by some persons from the BVI.
“Those festivals are not cheap. You know, they cost money and if you want to be in the game, Cathy (reporter), you have to spend the money,” Dr Wheatley said.
Premier Wheatley stated at the time that the territory is not broke.
He added: “If persons are concerned about a little $250K, just wait until I really get going, Cathy, because I want to make the Virgin Islands a true destination for persons coming on that same [American Airlines] Miami flight to the Virgin Islands.”
Skelton, in the meantime, argued that the upcoming August Festival will not receive sufficient funding and is just roughly eight weeks away.
“So why keep another party at this point in time?” Skelton asked. “[August Festival] is when our forefathers were emancipated from slavery, that’s what we’re celebrating. We don’t think this is the appropriate time and a good use of scarce resources at this point in time.”
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Not Mr.China lol lol boy please!
You just can’t make this $hit up! And I am talking about the total disfunction in general with our political leaders. No vision, no planning, just shoot from hip, and all else be damned.
@RS – The Premier announced this last week and only now you make a statement! You waiting to see what the Public have to say before commenting? Or are you just that slow to condemn something this idiotic so close to emancipation celebrations?
VIP straight back to their old tricks again.
Who will get the contract for the stage, Popeye? Nah man that got Sheep written all over it.
Non-Stop concert? What we want, what we need is non-stop electricity and non-stop water but of course there is no appetite in team green to actually do anything for the people of the BVI – just for themselves, as usual.
Now look at the hypocrisy of this guy…he wants more than $250k to open offices for the Opposition and they have offices in the House of Assembly building in Road Town.
Yes this is crazy…some of that money can be given to the farmers!! People of the BVI FOOD will soon stop coming here!! Please let work together and take farming serious please!! I want a lil piece of crown land to farm on! Give the people a chance to farm on the land if there not serious,take it from them a let someone who have interest deal with with!!
a little 250 k he say? We really in trouble in this territory.
what we need is non-stop electricity and non-stop water – (BVI) love it
To the farmers again? You don’t think they got enough during the pandemic and nothing to show for it?
Use it to fix the roads properly with proper drainage. And when I say fix I don’t mean patch and ho
I don’t think that he thought “a little $250,000.00 “ before he got into politics and was living in his mothers home.
Let his ask China for money!!!
to enforce the Order in Council. VIP government gone crazy again.
Put the money in the August Festival and don’t charge money at gate make it free and you will get more people to attend and spend more money at the booths.
Use the money to beautify and clean up Tortola before your AA guests arrive. Use the money to stop people from ruining our coasts by dumping dirt in the sea and then dumping trucks on this newly reclaimed area. Is anyone watching and doing anything about this problem??
Sowande full of crap for this. 250k to wuk up….
NOT WHENM WE HAVING POWER OUTAGES LIKE CAR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON AND OFF. OUR PRIORITIES ARE ALL WRONG
It looks like some of you want the country to run on consensus and base only on what the few bloggers (who are blogging over & over & over under different names) on this news site wants. People every sector of the country must be addressed.
If he responded sooner you still would have something negative to say. So he will speak when he is ready. Tell our premier to do better
The premier of the virgin islands, were these really his words?
“In response, Premier Wheatley made reference to the St Kitts Music Festival, which he said will be held later this month and will be attended by some persons from the BVI.
“Those festivals are not cheap. You know, they cost money and if you want to be in the game, Cathy (reporter), you have to spend the money,” Dr Wheatley said.
Premier Wheatley stated at the time that the territory is not broke.
He added: “If persons are concerned about a little $250K, just wait until I really get going, Cathy, because I want to make the Virgin Islands a true destination for persons coming on that same [American Airlines] Miami flight to the Virgin Islands.””
What game is he talking about? The one where peope have to shower from bucket? This grant, is this coming from USVI? Was this the bribe money? FOH! Why he talking like this? Wait until he really gets going with what? Wasting money on garbage? OMG!!!!! They put THIS in power. LORNA LORNA LORNA, IT IS YOUR DOING, YOU DO NOT GIVE A RATZ ABOUT THIS PLACE! THIS IS SICKENING!!! NO CONFIDENCE! NO BRAIN! NO DECORUM! NO COMMON SENSE.
Lorna cause all of this and she is no where to be found.
If Lorna don’t get back to the people’s corner it either going to be multiple votes of no confidence or a vote for the UK to suspend the Constitution FORTHWITH! or the lawd knows what… You all hear the man say, wait till he really gets started?
SO WHAT DID YOU PEOPLE REALLY EXPECT TO CHANGE?
I REALLY DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU PEOPLE. WHEN YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION, THEN LET US REALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION. CHANGE? WHERE, WHEN, HOW. WHAT STARTS WRONG , WILL END WRONG. AS OLD PEOPLE USED TO SAY:
WHAT YOU BUY, YOU MUST WEAR. YOU AIN’T SEE NOTHING YET!!! ASK LORNA.
We’re dumb, the money isn’t ours… Someone investing in this giving them the money so they can get something in return.
Breaking news ” government apologizes and promises to stop wasting money!”
Soon to announce long term planning for infrastructure”
@TrueDat
In addition to what you said “We want Safety Nonstop”. Get guns and criminals off the street.
Sowande is a party planner. He has proven that he is not qualified to do anything that has to do with infrastructure or anything else that requires a brain. How he got into the position is a mistake. Lorna need to fix this mistake. Was it really worth it Lorna? For a title? Come on man. The only person in the corner was Mark, taking photograph. Until this mistake is fixed, it wont be surprising if people start to protest for the fixing of the roads, to boycott one mart, to boycott the free party and anything else to do with those who power hungry, irresponsible and clueless. Stop the FRIG!
Thank you Lorna Delila Smith
Stupes!
What I find interesting is that if the Adena Donovan Home is leaking l, a close relative of the Premier is likely getting wet while he is planing a lavish free party.
BVI is having a free music fest – Please send help!
Use some of this money to hire workers to give fines to Skelton concrete and Mr Ritter from dumping and cleaning their trucks along the coast of the entire island. Every day a new concrete mountain is dumped on the road side and even in the mangroves. I swear there were fines for such acts.
Aya serious?Virgin Gorda needs a dam bachoe for over seven years now for water & sewerage,also no place for the guys to report to since Irma.And your going to pump $250k into a party.Well what the f!!!!
Uk please can me have some money. Why you not giving me enough free money? Oh – I spent it on a party….
I am so sorry, daddy. ??
Assishness
His own party needed to call a no confidence on he too for the cruise pier and where the money came from
Correct. Lorna get back to the people them corner where they voted for you. We need this premier removed from that position. This is ridiculous
I’m speechless!