Paragon facing closure- Nathan R. Wong
Persons have bombarded our newsroom with calls asking why it was that the Paragon’s licence is being held up. They told us that Paragon is the only location suited for many of the events they frequent and that they enjoy the comfortable parking available.
We took these concerns to Nathan R. Wong of Paragon Conference and Entertainment Centre and asked him whether these concerns were valid and whether the business is still operational.
Still in business
Wong said that Paragon is still operating and doing business. “However, with that being said, we no longer do nightclub events or any events for that matter past 12am. So we have been doing small functions for various schools, art exhibitions, catered events, non-profit conferences, fashion shows, church gatherings, school graduation ceremonies and those types of things,” Wong said.
Wong added that although late events, Paragon was never intended to be a nightclub, “nor did we want to deal with those additional headaches and late nights. It was only because of the costs that were accumulated during construction that we decided to do these types of events to pay off some of the initial capital invested into the business.”
He said, however, within their first six months of business a resident living in Kingston filed a noise complaint and took the business to court in June 2014. “The court case lasted three months and almost 9 months later the Magistrate is yet to make a decision to renew or deny our club licence. So as of June 2014 we have been operating with a restaurant and bar licence,” said Wong.
This resident is Charles Tobias, this news site was reliably informed.
Unbearable
This news site contacted Tobias who confirmed that he is the person who filed the complaint against the business.
Tobias said that he made several complaints to the business regarding the alleged noise nuisance and after the situation became unbearable he made an official complaint to the authorities.
“My experience was that they used to run the place sometimes until 4.00 in the morning. It is so loud that I couldn’t sleep. So I spoke to them politely on numerous occasions and tried to reach them on other occasions to try to work something out because I don’t want to be a hardship on any business,” he said.
Tobias said that the authorities came to his home and spent time to assess the loudness of the music allegedly emanating from Paragon.
“They determined that I was not exaggerating and that [the noise was indeed too loud],” he said. “You must understand that I have nothing in any way against the individuals personally. In fact I empathise with them. But [at my age] I can’t sleep and it is very difficult,” he said.
Paragon faces uncertainty
He said that it is uncertain where the business will be in the coming months if the nightclub licence is not renewed. “We’re trying to do it ‘the right way’ and we’re encountering a lot of obstacles. Maybe Paragon will be under new management/ownership who knows, anything is possible,” said Wong when asked about the future of the business.
He said that should Paragon go out of business it would be devastating for the people who depend on it. “Paragon employed a lot of people. It’s that simple. From entertainers, to promoters, to decorators, to wait staff, bartenders, to cleaning staff and the list goes on,” he said.
Wong said that Paragon offered what many other venues could not and this was a plus for the business. “Many of the local promoters came to our venue because it offered what many other venues in the BVI couldn’t offer. More than enough parking for any sized event (off of the main road), a well-lit parking lot, a spacious venue with a large stage, running water in the bathrooms at night, a safe building with ample fire exits, among many other things” said Wong.
“It is unfortunate that one man can put all of those people out of work so easily, and it probably didn’t even cost him any money to do it,” said Wong.
The best choice
Speaking with this news site today April 7, 2015, one promoter said that Paragon was the event venue of choice for him as it represented the best chance of making the best returns on an event.
“Paragon actually is the ideal spot on Tortola for holding events for several reasons. Starting from the outside, it has excellent parking area with the parking lot; it is out of the way of the town area where traffic will be an issue, and on the inside it is double the size of any venue on Tortola. From that perspective alone that would make it an attractive place for a promotor like me. It is a comfortable spot,” he said.
He said too that when one considers the number of people Paragon can accommodate, this translates to returns for the event organisers. “The fact that Paragon is closed [for late night events] has affected the entertainment business,” said the promoter, who did not want his name revealed.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
56 Responses to “Paragon facing closure- Nathan R. Wong”
Stop talking $%&*! If someone opened a club right below your residence and played loud music til wee hours you would be upset as well. It has nothing to do with white or black. As a matter of fact, more local black people complain about loud music than whites, FACT! Ask the club owners along waterfront drive and other areas who are the ones calling the police, it's not white people. Instead of encouraging the guy to do what's right we are here making excuses and making this about race. Some white peopl can be disgusting and condescending. In this case, if the noise is loud it's $%^&* loud. What's the problem?
I phoned on different occasions regarding to separate areas of noise and the police wasted no time to put a stop to it.
Just yesterday, I saw this rust coloured jeep with speakers to the front by the license plate blasting. Now, does anyone care to hear your music. This should be against the law. Everyone deserves peace of mind.
Even when Paragon was jumping you could barely hear the music from right there in the parking lot. But he could hear the music from all up the hill. The building was pretty insulated.
What are we, Nomads ??!!!!!
Why not sound proof the place? If they had a proper club we won't be reading this....! People just love to complain! You can't put a club smack in a residential area and not sound proof it. do what's necessary to get your license. I'm sure if you sound proof the place then that would solve the problem.
Oh boy!
This Has nothing to do with SAOUND, anyone one on this blog tell me, have you ever been to paragon and can hear the music loud outside of that club in the parking lot? Paragon was outfitted with sound proofing. Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
wong aint see dem y***g g*rls jinxing them
LET ME SAY THIS, REAL TALK, MR T....... NAME SAID IT ALL, HE NEED TO STOP, JUST LIKE HOW HE DIDNT WANT D...A TO BUILD A WALL, HES ALWAYS COMPLAINING.............SOMETIMES, HE WOULD ME MAKE WONDER AND SAY THIS TO HIM, ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU GET US UPSETTING. WHEN YOU FULLY WELL NO THAT YOU JUST HATE PEOPLE OF COLOUR...REAL TALK.
Skelton and sol plant way worse than paragon; paragon might be loud once or twice a week if that. skelton quarry and sol plant is every single day. Sometime back they were useing a jack hammer and doing construction / demolition well after 8-11 o clock the night in sol yard. Call the police don't know if them reach yet? lets not even talk about when skelton them blasting or whatever they be doing. they know people live in the area. fighting the wrong people.
Some people been a pain in a lot of people's butts in this Territory.. thinks because them w**te and hs some money can do and get away with all that they wants. wrongfully dismiss employees and sued by some and they won. complains about everything. even complained and went to every source in this Territory you can think about to stop a man when he was building his house. Why? because it was blocking their view. selfish, self centered, cantankerous, arrogant fools.
Mr. T complained about Paula's back in the day (Paula ran him out the establishment with a 2x4, never to return), he complained about CTL, Skelton Qaurry, Tola Mitsubishi, and even Ocean's 7. He is clearly the unofficial Mayor of Fish Bay and Fish Bay's neighbouring islands.
need to pay staff more money before he study about noise
Them honkeytonks always going in people place and trying to tell them how to run it. I keep saying, we busy fighting and cussing our own people, when the real Shiite hit the fan, it will be them on our backs. The UK overrun with foreigners, them running here and always want to bring their r*st mentality here. Let the owner of Paragon find a solution that Tobias can live with, but do not put the man out of business. Why he don't move and go live in Pussers. Ah sick ah them, man. This is just the beginning.
Have any of you ever been to Paragon whenever there is an event? I have, and I can tell you that they are NOT loud. That building is already sound proof and noise could hardly be heard from the parking lot much less all the way up in the hills. It is not possible. Killing the nightlife in this country. It needs to stop
One thing is for certain is that the BVI consists of a bunch of inconsiderate a-holes who when it comes to making their money or having their fun they could care less about otrs around them. I don't live Fish Bay but if what this man has been experiencing is anything like what's been recently introduced to the baughers bay/fort hill/purcell neighbourhoods well I get his frustration. For persons who don't live in these areas and have to endure the BS can never understand. You think it's easy being at home, trying to relax, get some sleep only to have loud music blaring through your home late night nonetheless, come on now. Take a pass through fort hill on a friday and you will see what i'm talking bout. How can you consciously have DJs and live bands in an open venue smack in the middle of a neighbourhood pounding music for hrs disturbing ppl. One thing is for certain is once you have some fancy last name or belong the social club you get away with anything under the sun. God don't sleep though & ppl need to remember what you don't want for yourself don't dish it out on others
This is a retirement country. I live above a night club and the noise does but keep me from sleeping. That man
Has money. Why he don't move from that location since he's the only one complaining.
Ok let us protest stop supporting pu**** i done start.