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Virgin Islanders value people they don’t know- Raul R. Sprauve

-Local musician calls on Gov’t to invest more in the local people & those in the arts
Local musician and Band owner, Raul R. Sprauve aka 'Jugo' has called on the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) to start investing more in its people, particularly those in the arts and for more value to be placed on locals in the VI’s small community. Photo: Facebook
Mr Rawle R. Sprauve was at the time speaking on the February 26, 2024, edition of the Real Talk show with Karia J. Christopher on the need for the Government to recognize local bands of international standards and to ensure they are more of brand ambassadors in in the VI. Photo: Real Talk/Facebook
Mr Rawle R. Sprauve was at the time speaking on the February 26, 2024, edition of the Real Talk show with Karia J. Christopher on the need for the Government to recognize local bands of international standards and to ensure they are more of brand ambassadors in in the VI. Photo: Real Talk/Facebook
VIBE Band is unofficially a brand ambassador for the [British] Virgin Islands. Photo: VIBE/Facebook
VIBE Band is unofficially a brand ambassador for the [British] Virgin Islands. Photo: VIBE/Facebook
PALESTINA ESTATE, Tortola, VI –Local musician and band owner Raul R. Sprauve aka 'Jugo' has called on the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) to start investing more in its people, particularly those in the arts and for more value to be placed on locals in the VI’s small community.

Mr Sprauve was at the time speaking on the February 26, 2024, edition of the Real Talk show with Karia J. Christopher on the need for the Government to recognise local bands of international standards and to ensure they are more brand ambassadors in the VI.

“We've fallen behind in that aspect because of the small community that we live in… a small community where you're not the host of Real Talk show, that’s miss so and so daughter.”

“So it's kind of they don't give you the respect because they watch you come up as a kid and they know your father, your mother. They know basically your whole life… so they tend to value people or things that they don't know of or understand very well...” he said.

Mr Sprauve said the gap he pointed out could go across the board and affect athletes, bands, upcoming artists, or just about anyone in the arts.

Govt't called on to invest in people

“Whereas if you're in a bigger country, you don't tend to know the person, actually you would only know the person is from your country, but you don't actually know them personally," he said.

Mr Sprauve, the owner of VIBE Band, which stands for Virgin Islands Based Entertainment, said the government needs to invest more in its own people to bridge the gap and push local talent.

“Mr Premier, invest in our people, invest in arts, invest in a generation to come, because they're going to be the ones that will take us to a whole different level.”

He added, “Mr Premier, we need the support, not for me directly but for everyone else that's coming behind. We've been representing the British Virgin Islands, we've been ambassadors on our own, imagine if we had the support from the government?”

23 Responses to “Virgin Islanders value people they don’t know- Raul R. Sprauve”

  • Proud of You.. (26/02/2024, 12:04) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
    If you are a young aspiring musician and an entertainer you have the perfect, model, example..The work, the marketing, the patience, the energy, never give up..The discipline, the seriousness & friendliness..All involved in his success, and success on a whole. Period..!!
  • Yeah but (26/02/2024, 12:15) Like (45) Dislike (7) Reply
    Most of the local musicians sing pure trash and don't get me started on the ones that try to rap......
    • BVIslander (26/02/2024, 17:00) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
      In addition to singing trash, the music sounds like trash. Lots of banging, no melody and lyrics that undermine and degrade women.
    • @Yeah but... (29/02/2024, 06:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Have you listened to the music from other countries lately? I've heard pure trash... Check out mr. Nasty business and latest dancehall artists......toxic dump but they blooming right?

      So trash lyrics ain't the issue.....try again.
  • 250,000 free concert (26/02/2024, 12:46) Like (13) Dislike (16) Reply
    THAT FREE PARTY MONEY SWEETENED HE SO HE WANT MORE
  • Anonymous (26/02/2024, 12:47) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    Wonderful interview
  • ccc (26/02/2024, 13:10) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    Very good write up
  • VG (26/02/2024, 13:22) Like (16) Dislike (10) Reply
    We love you Raul "jugo" Sprauve very level headed show those so call leaders what they are
  • local boy (26/02/2024, 13:45) Like (3) Dislike (22) Reply
    Jougo"s heart and mind are in the right place. I wanna see him step up and take his rightful place and represent the ppl in the HoA in the next general elections.
  • Bull Shid (26/02/2024, 14:32) Like (25) Dislike (7) Reply
    Pointing to government to get international recognition is a long way to nowhere. No government have to invest in non of that shid. If you talented and your music speaks for itself, there are many avenues to get recognition. You all don’t get recognition you want because the music is not appealing on the international stage.

    THAT IS A FACT!

    Bunji said it best. If your mustia not good enough to get you to the promoters from Labor Day onwards in New York, forget about bookings for the rest of the year.

    So my message to Jugo is to make good music that would at least get you on the biggest carnival stage in the Caribbean and that’s in Trinidad for February or consider your time wasted. Join the soca fraternity. Stop trying to reinvent a wheel that had already rolled away!



    • @ bull shid (27/02/2024, 00:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      No Trini want to hear murdering during carnival
      Is jamming whining freeing up mashing up jumping up feteing
      But I feel u ....
  • Smiley (26/02/2024, 18:32) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    Local music is pure nonsense. Make no sense what they sing. I laugh at people when I see them jumping up to stupidness.
  • M (26/02/2024, 19:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Alright sprung Bob square face looks alike, want All the jam for yourself. Do the jougo dance, one style
  • don (26/02/2024, 19:17) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    All who on here that’s misled by the message
    1. Don’t respect the culture/culture
    2. Have no respect for the future
    3. Short sighted
    4. Probably never experience the “lil boy/lil girl” stigma

    I notice he highlighting the flaws in the system without bashing anyone in the system.



    Other countries invest in their ambassadors. Stop playing with me.
  • @Smiley (26/02/2024, 20:39) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    And they getting vex when we call their "music" trash LOL
  • Louder (26/02/2024, 21:26) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Say it loud so the people in the back can hear you.
  • stranger (27/02/2024, 09:14) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is these guy can’t write a song to hit the market and I totally agree with the people who talked about getting to Labor Day Carnival in NY. They can’t even entertain nor sing , no melody no style just noise. There a a few guys who really doing good around , I saw a guy in Tolwn yesterday playing for cruise ship passengers, high day. This guy know how to entertain people , he has a song for every situation, sings most genres and languages, good guitar player great voice and on the beat with his craft. Time VI Artist get to the point of entertainment and working daily not only when Carnival and expect Government to help them with tax payer money.
  • When this (27/02/2024, 10:53) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Article get posed to facebook I bet the haters won’t repeat themselves. For this reason don’t take on what people say via news networks with username
  • Screaming (27/02/2024, 11:01) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Instead of singing like nobody wants to hear that
  • @when this (27/02/2024, 12:03) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    S T F U
  • Cha (28/02/2024, 07:20) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    We have a bandwagon government. They'll invest in foreigners and white people for their own. No wonder when kids go off they don't want to come back.
    Waste of time.
  • @ SMILEY (28/02/2024, 07:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    all these wannabe superstars coming out yhe woodworks just making a whole ton load of noise and think they doing
    something so spectacular , the white lady is control of some of them minds , that's what the man the streets saying
  • Let's be honest here (29/02/2024, 06:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    FIRSTLY!! Let's NOT blame trash lyrics because trash lyrics are everywhere, not just here so leave your biases at the door please.

    You can't only look to the government to boost your recognition, most of the artists we know and love is because of THEIR fans and supporters. The "Vibers" needs to be VIBING everywhere they go just kike they do when here, be as proud to jam to a vibe tune, even if it gets them stared at or laughed at. Your FANBASE is your FREE marketing team! Truth be told, people would laugh at first, but they'll catch on.

    Very few people are independent thinkers, they like what the majority likes, they hate what the majority hates. If your fans loves you as much as they say they do, they'll blast your songs wherever they go, regardless of who criticizes them for doing it.

    People really don't care about lyrical content quality, they only care about the beat, the music. The quality of the music needs to be upgraded, to reach audiences worldwide, not just the BVI community. The Virgin Islands government should and probably would back the its community, if the community is back local entertainers.

    And the problem with local entertainers, they don't take this seriously enough, they too impatient and lack confidence. Because again, let's be honest it starts with the artists. And I don't see bands making it to the stage on unless they are backing a solo artist.



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