OMG allegedly snubbed by Jouvert Sub-Committee; Out of Rise & Shine Tramp
According to a member of OMG, speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online on condition of anonymity, their band was snubbed.
The OMG member explained that usually every year there is a meeting with all the bands and the police as to the protocol involving the lineup and other pertinent issues for the popular Rise and Shine event; however, to their knowledge, no meeting was held this year. They then said they heard commercials on the radio for the bands that had been booked to participate in the Rise and Shine event. OMG then reached out immediately to the Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Mr Dirk L. Walters and Vice Chairman Mr Birchfield B. Lettsome 'aka' DJ Bertrum.
They reportedly reached Mr Walters and he asked them to reach out to the Sub-Committee Chairpersons for the Rise and Shine Tramp as Mr Walters appeared to be surprised no contract was made. OMG said all phone calls to the Jouvert Sub-Committee Chair and the Deputy Chair of the VIF&FC went unanswered. The band members then reportedly placed their concerns in writing in an Email to Mr Walters.
Given the runaround?
The band OMG noted they followed all instructions given and then tried again to reach out to other members of the Festival Committee but all calls went unanswered. So, as of publication time, OMG will not be on the road for the Rise & Shine Tramp and no reason, according to OMG, was given why this year they will not be allowed to participate.
A Member of OMG noted; however, that someone from the Festival Committee reached out to a band member whose Email address was not on the contact email sent to the VIF&FC so he was not in a position to make a decision at the time. In a Facebook post, OMG noted that “to date we have been ignored and given the run around by the VIF&FC.”
Mr Walters confirmed to our newsroom that when he got wind of the issue, he reached out to Mr Jevaughn J. Parsons aka 'JJ' of OMG and directed him to contact the Chairperson of the Rise and Shine Sub-Committee.
He said he has no idea what transpired since then, but emphasied that it was he who reached out to OMG and not the other way around as is being said by OMG.
The VIF&FC Chairman made it clear that he does not involve himself with booking bands for anything.
OMG is owned by Elmore E. Conner Jr 'aka' Ricky, and was founded in 2014. Since being founded, they have participated in all Rise and Shine events.
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