Foreign artists were all paid promptly for performing at Festival 2015 while locals are still waiting. Photo: VINO/File

Host Doug Wheatley said that the payment to local performers following Festival has been a perennial problem. Photo: VINO/File

Culture Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn, who is ironically pressing on with promoting national pride while foreign entertainers have all been paid for their performances, remains silent on the issue. Photo: VINO/File

The show was hosted by Doug Wheatley and aired on Tuesday January 19, 2016 on ZBVI 780 AM.

“I want to make it clear Doug... I don’t have a problem with nobody who perform for Festival and making noise for their money,” the caller declared.

The caller further said he has been a member of a Festival sub-committee for the past 12 Years and that the problem of locals not being paid in a timely manner has been going on for the past 12 or 13 years.

“Everyone Festival come it is the next year and going into the next Festival that people waiting to get paid and I think that the time come when it must stop,” he said.

The man made the point that when someone owes government they are made to pay.

“I think that the government should come out and make some kind of statement and make some effort to pay, because when you work you want pay and from August 2015 to now I think it is high time.”

He added that no statement is even necessary at this point and that government should promptly pay whoever is owed.

The caller wanted to know how it was that Festival performers could be owed money and government is making investment in BVI Airways to the tune of $7 million of taxpayers’ money. Government said it was necessary to fund the venture as it would mean the opening up of airlift opportunities for those coming to the territory and eliminate the need for transiting in St Thomas, USVI and other places trying to get to the VI.

Host Wheatley said payments following Festival have been a perennial problem. A number of local band managers and members have confirmed to this news site that they are still awaiting payment for their performances at Festival 2015 since July/August 2015.

Meanwhile, Culture Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn, who is ironically pressing on with promoting national pride while foreign entertainers have all been paid for their performances, remains silent on the issue.