Funds deposited without having been verified- VIF&F Report
Kiddie’s Fiesta (Coney Islands)
Mr. James Lettsome is listed as the Chairman of the Kiddie’s Fiesta Sub-committee. The report presented by Mr Blyden stated that Mr. Lettsome did not submit a report for his sub-committee on the 2012 Kiddie’s Fiesta.
Mr. Blyden also complained in his report that “the rides were already confirmed” by Mr. Lettsome, even before the Chairman [ Blyden] was able to see and approve them.
Another vexing issue for Mr. Blyden was that funds from the Coney Islands “were always deposited the same evening, but were presented to the Treasurer the following day without having being verified.”
The VIF&F report recommended that more stringent measures be taken in the collecting of funds nightly. It further stated that the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee “should be in charge of providing the tickets used as well as the collection and counting of the funds.”
Cultural Fair (Food Fair)
Mr. Lettsome was also, according to the report, the Chairman of the Cultural Fair Sub-committee and that he had not submitted a report for this committee. However, the challenges faced were the “preparation of the site for the fair started late which did not give leeway for the correcting of problems which occurred.”
The VIF&F report also listed, in regards to the Food Fair, the “lack of electricity” and “uneven billing for spots”
Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta Committee
The Sub-Committee on the Carrot Bay festivities presented a report and sited among others issues “sound system failure” and that “security service personal displayed a lack of integrity at the paying events.” The report did not elaborate on this issue.
The Carrot Bay Sub-Committee also requested that come 2013 their allotment from Government should be reviewed and increased to $85,000. Currently, it is $60,000. Mr. Stuart Donovan was listed in the report as a member of the central committee representing Carrot Bay.
The controversial report was laid on the table of the House of Assembly on November 15, 2012 by Culture Minister Myron V. Walwyn at the Fourth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.
The VIF&F report made news last week as this news site firstly reported that the report was very critical of the Public Relations Officer Rhodni Skelton, saying his role was a major challenge and disappointment.
The report stated that, “the marketing for Festival 2012 was disappointing. The Public Relations Officer was not always available to discuss matters and at time when things were brought to his attention little or nothing was done.” Mr. Skelton has since released a statement disputing the claim by the Chairman and threatened to resign, if no retraction is given by Mr. Blyden.
The report also blasted the Village Sub-Committee chair Franche Gumbs, saying that he was found to be the biggest challenge and was “very difficult to work with.”
In addition, the report also claimed that former Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee Mr. Colin Scatliffe did not leave any comprehensive or Financial Report for 2011….and that he was asked for a financial report which was never received.
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18 Responses to “Funds deposited without having been verified- VIF&F Report”
A lot of money is spent on festival and from the sounds of it, despite the best efforts of Blyden, a lot of it seems to be wasted because of poor oversight and inefficient committees.
Clean up house!
Wait but the funds were collected each night by the festival accounts person after the Coney Island close. So why funds were always presented to the Treasurer the following day when it was already collected and verified the night before? Something don’t add up here.
Recommendation, the Treasurer of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee needs to step up.
Mr. Lettsome has done a good job from what we the public have seen with the rides. Past years the rides were not looking good and people spoke out and we saw the change and more, kids had to be a certain height in order to get on a ride.