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New Music Fest Committee pledges transparency

- 2012 Fest to cost $315K, to raise $75K more
Coordinator of the Cane Garden Bay Music Festival Committee Rhodni Skelton (left standing) said the Committee will be submitting its Financial report within 60 days after the event to the Premier. Sitting (left to right) are Tourist Board's Lynette Harrigan, President of the Music Festival Committee Carnel Cline, Inspector Headley and Sue Thomas from Digicel. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The new Cane Garden Bay Music Festival Committee has committed financial transparency and promised to deliver their financial report to the Premier within 60 days after the event.

At a press conference held yesterday April 23, 2012 where the official line up for the three-day musical extravaganza slated for May 27 to May 29, 2012 was disclosed, it was also revealed by Events Coordinator Rhodni Skelton that the committee will turn in their financial report to Premier and Minister for Finance Dr. D. Orlando Smith.

When questioned by the media regarding financial transparency of the festival over the years, Skelton responded, “This is a new committee running an old event... We have not inherited anything from the previous committee.”

Skelton had also come to the defense of the financial transparency during the years that the Music Fest was spearheaded by Frank Mahoney stating that there was "no wastage of funds" and that Mahoney submitted his reports.

However, Skelton said he could not speak for what was done over the past three years when the Committee was headed by Daniel "Pops" Cline.

He disclosed that the 2012 Festival will cost an estimated $315,000 to run and so far with sponsorship and Government’s funding of $150,000, they would have covered approximately $225,000, thus leaving another $75,000 to be raised.

However, Skelton made it clear that the $225,000 did not include the projected revenue that will come from the gate nor from the bars and the Committee will also be seeking out additional sponsors to cover that amount.

In response to the media regarding the possibility of running a deficit, Skelton stated that, “We are not taking on anything we cannot account for. Many sponsors have pledged financially. We have covered ourselves.”

This year, along with the Government and other major sponsors, Digicel has also come on board and will be offering both in kind and cash contributions to the event including free access to the internet for live streaming of the event.

15 Responses to “New Music Fest Committee pledges transparency”

  • joblo wants to know (24/04/2012, 14:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    A very good committee as long as the other clines are out.
    • cane garden bay (24/04/2012, 18:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What about bow tie bouy keep he out and we need frank back
      • the rock says (24/04/2012, 22:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        u fool did u not see what frank did at the national park trust music fest!!!?
    • billy b (24/04/2012, 23:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      strrruuuppes Dont they all pledge transparency till BAM, evry thing becomes top secret pleeeeeease
  • ------------------------- (24/04/2012, 14:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    that is what they all say...we are still waiting to see the informtion from last musci fet
  • Not2Sure (24/04/2012, 17:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes, that is right. It is easy to *promise* transparency. But nobody seems to *deliver* transparency when it actually counts. I am guessing that this committee will be no different.
  • head master (24/04/2012, 18:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I do not understand what this new group is saying about transparency they all say this blah blah blah....
    • Devil's ad (25/04/2012, 03:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      For 150k? What transparency is needed? Chupes. Like Skelly say, the stage alone is that price. So all they need to do is show what they did with the public's funds. So show a bill for the stage as paid, and I am good.
  • critic (24/04/2012, 21:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    they always say that...all of them
  • go back (24/04/2012, 21:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i give them credit if that is what they call transparency that they listened to our cry to put it back on the beach.....now give it back to Frank
  • what we want (25/04/2012, 00:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We want the names of all those handling the money plus we want to see the books after the event!
  • power (25/04/2012, 15:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    After the music fest you will hear a different story, all of them on the committee don't have a back ground in anything, by the way do they now how people have to attend or the pricing just to break even, we will see how it goes.


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