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‘Entertainers not paid for Road Town Festival’ - ‘Selecta Taz’
Speaking with this news site yesterday September 13, 2015, Glasgow said, “As far as I know, Road Town [performances] haven’t been paid for but I think Carrot Bay and East End made some efforts to pay people already.”
“In terms of Road Town I think that is the issue right now because nobody had been paid for Road Town as yet,” said Glasgow, who represents the entertainment watchdog body the GRATE BVI Music Alliance.
He said that it is usually the case where East End and Carrot Bay performances are paid for. “But town is always some story…you have to wait until the next quarter for the budget and all that stuff,” he said.
He noted that Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn has committed to ensuring that artistes are paid for their services rendered and that this payment should come sometime before Christmas.
“More than likely that is what it is looking like this year,” he said, referring to statements allegedly made by the Minister apologising to local artistes for being late with their payments.
“Apparently they are trying to blame it on something to do with the books…that they always have a heap of overhead expenses when festival is finished. He is saying basically that this year will be the same thing and that a little closer to Christmas is when we should expect that payment,” said Glasgow.
“I have no knowledge of anybody receiving payments in terms of Road Town for sure. So if anybody could attest and say that they receive payment in terms of the work that they did in Road Town then something is wrong,” said Glasglow.
Minister apologises
Two weeks ago, the Minister apologised to persons still to receive their money for work done during the Emancipation celebrations.
The Minister committed to having the issue resolved and said that it was his aim to have persons paid before the Christmas season.
“I want to first apologise to those persons who have given their service to festival and to the country. They haven’t been paid in the month and I assure them that they will be paid,” he is quoted as saying in another section of the media.
The Minister explained that there is usually an annual shortfall of about $400,000 and this cannot be addressed until supplementary appropriations are brought to the House of Assembly later down in the year.
This news site contacted several members of bands and entertainment groups, however, none of them wanted to go on record with their comments.
One lead vocalist of a major VI band said that they were paid just a part of what is owed to them for their performance during festival. The band leader said that, according to the Minister, the balance of the payment should be coming to them before Christmas.
Another lead vocalist of a rival band told this news site that he would not disclose such information to the press when approached by this new site for a comment.
Accountability
One concerned letter writer to this news site voiced their opinion on the issue, saying that there is the need for accountability.
“This has gone on for far too long and we need some accountability for the way locals are treated...I'm quite sure Destra, Shurwayne Winchester et. al. have all been paid and have moved on to several other shows by now, meanwhile our people, OUR fellow Virgin Islanders have been left begging for scraps like a dog at Thanksgiving Dinner. Enough is enough. I implore the persons responsible for these actions to have a heart and do the right thing. A lot of the vendors and performers take on these jobs to help supplement an already meager income. I'm not in the habit of naming names, but may resort to such things in future letters if this trend continues. I just hope and pray my fellow Virgin Islanders will lend their support to this cause and help right this injustice,” stated the concerned resident.
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26 Responses to “‘Entertainers not paid for Road Town Festival’ - ‘Selecta Taz’”
Who likes more credits that m***n???
The government don't need to learn anything; and yes the people are fools. The people are the ones that put them back there. So stop the bawling and wait on your money and shut up. That's what you all wanted. You made your bed, now lie in it. Keep the pressure on NDP, they love it.