De Castro peeved @ change to Xmas promo venue
Speaking last night November 18, 2014 as a guest of the radio show 'Speak Out BVI' hosted by Doug Wheatley on ZBVI 780 AM, De Castro lamented the decision saying that dozens of persons will be financially affected as they have made significant investment in preparation for the annual event.
“This issue concerns many businesses in the Road Town area. There is this feature on Main Street for the last 15 years – Christmas on Main Street. It was started with the purpose of boosting the businesses in that area along Main Street as parking became a problem,” he said, adding that as a result of parking, many businesses had closed.
“The people in their good sense came up with the idea to have Christmas on Main Street to help those businesses and this has been going on for the last 15 year,” he said.
“During the week I heard that they are moving it from Main Street and moving it so Wickham’s Cay, on De Castro between Bobby’s and Scotiabank. These businesses on Main Street were not consulted on this matter,” said De Castro.
According to De Castro, it was his information that the Committee responsible for the event voted to move it from Main Street to Wickham’s Cay.
“I don’t see the sense in that…I don’t know whether it was a majority vote or a unanimous decision. One of the business owners decided to launch a petition,” he said.
“The extra merchandise and money that they have invested in their businesses for this event and it will be a loss to them and this is a complete disrespect to those merchants,” he said. “I don’t think they consulted anybody…at least they didn’t consult me,” he said.
“You can’t wait until the last moment to tell people this. These people have already invested thousands upon thousands in merchandise and other things to prepare for this event,” he said. “It has happened for 15 years and all of a sudden you just bring notice for people to move?” he asked.
Efforts today November 19, 2014 to reach City Manager Janice Brathwaite-Edwards for a comment on the concerns raised by De Castro were futile.
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19 Responses to “De Castro peeved @ change to Xmas promo venue”
That's the typical BVI for you. Suck suck suck and give back nothing. Blame blame blame Government but never contribute even a pencil or eraser to the schools. Let them cart their a.s. If they have anything worth buying then people would buy anyway, I don't see the point of their argument because mainstreet stores dont sell s..t.
Main Street was always too difficult to walk down so I'm not surprised they changed the detination. What they need to do now is make sure there are decent things on sale and not just crap Chinese toys that last 2 minutes before breaking.
He sickly looking self
Mr De Castro is right! It's not about the change in venue; it's about the Main Street businesses not being notified at all then finding out about the change with only three weeks notice!
Think about it- vendors who have participated from other locations have their tents and tables and shelving- they are set up. Where are the Main Street vendors who now have to set up at the new venue going to get equipment at such short notice?
When was the decision made? If it was made only recently, the change should be made next year. If the decision was made months ago, why was there no notification so the Main street vendors had time to prepare? This is an imperious, inconsiderate action.
On top of that, it's not a particularly well considered decision....if the problem is parking- and the parking lots along De Castro Street (that have, in past 'Christmas on Main Street' events been chock-a-block filled with cars) are now going to be filled with vendors, where are people going to park- Main Street?
My family hasn't gone in years because several years ago, my husband drove around for over an hour and never found a place to park. Without those lots, it's only going to get worse.