60th VI Festival in early limbo as ‘Alliance’ threatens boycott!
“Right now we tired waiting and tired of the disrespect. We rendered services and cannot be paid at the end of the day,” said the President of the ‘Alliance’ Mr Freeman. “We spoke to them (Chairman of the VIF&F Committee Mr Marvin Blyden) and he said nothing new,” he further added in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News online.
Efforts to reach Mr Blyden proved futile yesterday September 19, 2013.
Local artists performing at the recent VI Emancipation Festival activities reportedly had to sign a contract with the VIF&FC this year and, according to Mr Freeman, they were asked to and had agreed that they would not take any advance deposits on the agreed grounds that they would be paid in full no later than a period of two weeks. “They are in breach of their contract, they did not honour their contract,” said Mr Freeman.
Obviously disappointed and fed-up of the shabby treatment allegedly meted out to local artistes, Mr Freeman said they are now tired of being tossed around by the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee who kept giving “dead promises” to make payments to the local bands and artistes who participated in the 2013 Festival activities.
“All the international artists were paid in full. They were given an advance upon signing their contract and after their performance they got their balance and we here, the locals, can’t even get a small fraction of our monies and that is total discrimination,” he said.
Dealing with the way forward, ‘Boss’ said that in the future if they are still to be a part of Festival celebrations in the Virgin Islands they would not be signing any contracts prepared by the VI Festival and Fairs Committee but rather that committee would have to sign contracts prepared by the Alliance for its members. “Part of our contract would be that we must get an advance payment and the balance in full the moment we walk off the stage,” he stated emphatically.
He said in the past many times locals had performed one year and never got paid until the following year. “This got to stop, this would not be happening anymore.”
It was said that of the many performers, only a few got their monies. Of the Alliance group, only two members who participated in the calypso competition this year were reportedly paid, “Only Sistah Joyce and Luther got paid,” said Mr Freeman.
“Our spirits are broken. The whole reason for celebrating Festival is because of freedom but this whole thing just reminds us of slavery is as if we are being enslaved as opposed to being emancipated. We now wonder if it is worth giving our all,” Mr Freeman argued.
According to the Alliance President, it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for the celebration of Festivals, something they all enjoy doing, “But we cannot be continued to be taken advantage of in this manner,” he said.
Asked about their next course of action, Mr Eustace ‘Boss’ Freeman said, “We cannot say right now what our next course of action will be at this very moment but I would think that we would move to have a meeting with the Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn to discuss this thing that has been happening over the years.”
The ‘Alliance’ group has approximately 18-20 members. The group was formed some two years ago to ensure that their members are treated fairly and equally in the entertainment industry. The Vice-President of the Group is Jason ‘Ritical’ Frett.
Back in May of 2012, the group had raised similar and other issues with Mr Marvin ‘MB’ Blyden.
According to an article published on this new site on May 15, 2012, President of the group and lead singer of Showtime Band, Eustace ‘Boss’ Freeman had brought several issues to the committee’s attention. Issues ranged from local artists performing too early and many times in front of a handful of persons, local artists being paid too cheaply and being forced to accept it and local artists at times feeling as though they are being pitted against each other.
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50 Responses to “60th VI Festival in early limbo as ‘Alliance’ threatens boycott!”
They pitt themselves against each other playing the same mess. They need to get pay though.
Even your businesses have gone to the dogs!
You need to go!
down boycott 2014/15 festival both islands no respect for our local art form
LB you talking garbage, because if they could find money to pay for flights hotel and high cost they will get away with it in 2014 but you and this gov't keep in mind 2015 coming sooner then you think and what is good for the goose is good for the gander. They find money to do what they want! If they do not have any money why are they up and down starting Project after project??? Airport Expansion, Hospital, Port Project, Ferry Terminal; it does not stop! Why did they take at the last min and put $150,00 from Festival and give it to one man in Cane Garden Bay to make a muck and shame this country with a so called Music Fest?
If you can afford to wait an entire year for your money then good for you and yours. This place is dead!!! people have bills to pay and it's simple not fair to promise payment then turn your back. What are we suppose to tell the bank when our bills are due? They find money for everything under the sun. What happen to the financial report from Festival?
e honest and tell people how long it will really take! You know you waiting on the money from the Financial services tell people the truth!!! We tell the people we owe what you tell us so when two weeks pass and the bank don't see any money they don't want another excuse!!! So we don't want any excuse!!!
If you know the facts about the state of the country then why does it need to be said? Boss just need to be quiet and stop the noise and be patient. THe money will come. It is just a few hundred dollars and some of the members wont even get that much. Stop screaming that the Sky is Falling! THere are other people with bigger bills outstanding and they are waiting patiently and not bawling to the media every minute.
And the Music Festival money went to a committee not one man. But I know you want blame SKelton for that t00. even tho you agree that they gave the money too late.