‘VIF&FC needs to put its own in spotlight’- Dirk L. Walters
This—while not a new cry—was the centre of an August 16, 2019, social media live Facebook stream on the JTV page, by six men in the VI entertainment industry, David Thomas, Eustace Freeman aka “Boss”, Dirk L. Walters aka “Dirkee”, Reynold Phillips aka ‘King Paido’, Jason A. Frett aka ‘Ritical’ along Andy A. Jeffers who was the moderator for the show.
The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) was blasted for committing the same sins as previous committees despite the fact, according to Mr Walters, they were forewarned and urged against such ahead of the executing of the 65th festivities.
'Utter Nonsense' – Mr Walters
“I think its utter nonsense and total disrespect. We have had meetings about this where ‘Boss’ was present including the Chairman of the Festival and Fairs Committee [Carnel D. Clyne] was in attendance as well as the Minister of Culture [Dr. the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley] was in attendance. And we spoke about this, the lack of respect for the local artistes and I want people to stop this utter nonsense of referring to persons as local artists,” expressed Walters.
“I am only local because I live, I reside in the Virgin Islands, I am an international artist and producer and brand, all of us here Ritical, David, Boss all of us. So that’s the first thing and I think it is utter disrespect for any committee to put out a video that’s celebrating artists from all around the world separate from who is right here that has paid their dues,” he said.
Locals side-lined
He drew reference to a promotional video put out by the VIF&FC which highlighted only acts that were not resident in the VI, “and I have not seen one ad come out saying showtime, Extreme, VIBE, how many road march winners,” he said.
He supported the point raised by others on the panel stating that residents in the VI are artist that have produced and published high-level quality music, “Like myself and when you put them in the village, I personally really am not concerned about what time I play,” he said.
“But at the same time if you want to promote your own people you can’t put extreme or showtime on at 8 O’Clock, 9 O’Clock and expect, because you know the village, you know it’s the culture, it’s how we train the people, people come out of their house here very late.”
Walters took issue with the time at which the 65th Emancipation Festival Celebration Honourees, the Prime Time band was put on stage to play, “But at the same time you want to put on Prime Time at 8:30 – 9:00 in the night.”
He felt that it was the wiser thing to do of putting PrimeTime at “Prime Time” to perform for a larger crowd.
“And another thing too I want them to understand, I want to reiterate the fact that I, Dirk Walters… am not in no way form or fashion against any foreign entertainer,” he said noting that he has friends throughout the entertainment fraternity.
Give resident artist top priority – Walters
“But I am saying you have to put your people as top priority.” According to Walters, resident entertainers continue to “Get knock about” by the VIF&FC.
Walters’ position was supported by the others on the panel and even before he made his voice heard, another panellist Mr Frett had blasted the committee for not putting resident entertainers in the spotlight especially in the area of marketing.
“Festival committees over the years have not put enough emphasis and shown appreciation and encouragement for the BVI entertainers so to speak as far as with the ads,” he said.
“The different ways in which they put your pictures, even in their utterance you only hear about the international acts verbally,” Mr Frett underscored.
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