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Premier says no artiste met him on Festival non-payment

No local artistes have reportedly approached Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith in relation to issues of non-payment for the recent Emancipation Festival. He advised that discussions will be held with the Minister responsible, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn. Photo: VINO/File
Dr Smith said Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn will be able to fill details on the issue of non-payment for local artistes who performed at the recent Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO/File
Dr Smith said Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn will be able to fill details on the issue of non-payment for local artistes who performed at the recent Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO/File
Local artistes have complained bitterly about not being paid for their services following the end of the Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO/file
Local artistes have complained bitterly about not being paid for their services following the end of the Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO/file
The issue of the non-payment of local artistes who recently performed during the Emancipation Festival activities was laid squarely at the feet of Education and Culture Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn recently by Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith. Photo: VINO/file
The issue of the non-payment of local artistes who recently performed during the Emancipation Festival activities was laid squarely at the feet of Education and Culture Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn recently by Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith. Photo: VINO/file
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The issue of the non-payment of local artistes who recently performed during the Emancipation Festival activities was laid squarely at the feet of Education and Culture Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn recently by Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith.

Speaking to members of the media on September 18, 2013 after being asked why the artistes were not being paid, Dr Smith said, “For that matter we would have to have some discussions with the Minister responsible for Festival and Fairs, that’s the Minister of Education and he’ll be able to fill in the details.”

“Nobody has come to me and said that they have not been paid so unless that happens I would not be able to answer the question,” Dr Smith added, “Now that you’ve asked the question, I will have some discussions with the Minister responsible.”

Local artistes have complained bitterly about not being paid for their services following the end of the Emancipation Festival and also of not receiving any feedback from Chairman of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Mr Marvin ‘MB’ Blyden.

The artistes further complained that the issue of non-payment and delayed payments for local artistes have become a recurring issue each year and indicated that this was unfair when compared to the treatment of foreign artistes during the Festival.

The Premier, who said the issue was of some concern to him, further related that he could not provide details of ‘who has been paid or who has not been paid’.

President of the Grate VI Music Alliance group, Mr Eustace ‘Boss’ Freeman, recently told this news site that local artistes and bands may be forced to boycott the 60th anniversary celebration of the Virgin Islands Emancipation festivities next year if their members have not been paid for services rendered this year.

16 Responses to “Premier says no artiste met him on Festival non-payment”

  • hard times (22/09/2013, 09:45) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why will anyone waste their time to go see ‘Doc I don’t have a clue’?
    • @ hard times (22/09/2013, 12:23) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      i agree the more he talks the more it becomes apparent that Doc is no leader...a whiner perhaps?
    • BECAUSE... (22/09/2013, 14:41) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
      BECAUSE HE IS THE PREMIER!
      • tell it like it is (23/09/2013, 11:44) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply

        We all respect the Premier's position. However, no one goes to the Premier to voice concerns about lack of payment for entertainment at the Festival Village because he has an appointed Minister of Education and Culture in place, who has in turn appointed a Festival and Fairs Committee.

        People are following the correct protocol in call the promoters, and the Chairman of the Festival and Fairs Committee. The cry is sounding louder and higher because there has not been a clear response from the Ministry until this morning.

  • BREAKING NEWS (22/09/2013, 09:48) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply

    I have to take a laugh when he always trying to run everybody else ministry; giving out bush cutting, claiming to find jobs for youths but when coming to his own ministry he has fail and cannot run dey..What ah big joker

  • ooooo (22/09/2013, 10:46) Like (0) Dislike (11) Reply
    this is just pure prevarication (stray from the truth/evade)
  • ting te talk (22/09/2013, 11:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Outsiders already paid and local not a dime yet.."ting te talk"
    • bvi (22/09/2013, 12:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Fairness in life should mean that people get what they deserve!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • biden (22/09/2013, 11:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    "MALARKEY"
    • mary j (22/09/2013, 12:33) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      It's a darn shame when locals who pay taxes can't get paid, but expats done gone home with we $$$$$$
  • bell that cat (22/09/2013, 12:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is what is now coming back to haunt you Dr. Smith, now, a good manager would have remove the spoilt food before it contaminated the rest or started to smell in the place which would have run away your customers!.
  • ting te talk (22/09/2013, 12:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    While I am and NDP our leader Dr. Smith is perceived as too WEAK. He appears to have false courage, meaning that he talk a good talk (oh what they give him to say) but when it comes time to do battle for the people he seems to have second thoughts.
  • . (22/09/2013, 15:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Myron shame and quiet ...... I wonder why?
  • ABC (22/09/2013, 20:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doc. do you know that the Ministry of Finance intends to commence work on the Cruise ship dock in October at the commencement of the Cruise ship season ? Have you given any thought to what this will do to this industry?
    Trust me in a few days you will hear and feel the full weight of this decision. Please! since when a man with POW's charactor is being allowed to make decisions with implications of this magnitude?
    Doc, POW and Skelton Cline are one and the same; If you refuse to control these charactors trust me, you will sooner than later get the message.Taxi men must also make a living.
  • band man (23/09/2013, 07:17) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We have not heard from Myron on this matter, has the speech writers been paid?


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