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‘Why must we pay to enter Festival events?’ – asks Donald E. de Castro

- continues to decry the Festival celebrations as not being reflective of Emancipation
A scene from one of the Festival mega-concerts with international artists. Photo: VINO
A scene from the Festival block party. Photo: VINO
A scene from the Festival block party. Photo: VINO
Donald E. de Castro. Photo: VINO/File
Donald E. de Castro. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Radio talk show host and social commentator Donald E. de Castro is peeved that members of the public have to pay to get entry into what are supposed to be Emancipation celebrations during Festival.

Speaking on his radio show Straight Talk aired on ZBVI 780AM on August 12, 2015, de Castro made his thoughts public on the issue.

It was seen that for the Festival concerns this year, on the nights with the big acts, persons were not allowed in unless they paid $20.

“They are bringing big bands and entertainers from outside and they want half of the money before they get here and the rest of it when they actually perform. And we have to pay for that when we should be celebrating our freedom,” he said.

“They also had some mess called a block party,” he said, referring to the official Festival launch and block party held in de Castro Street several weeks ago. “What does that have to do with our Emancipation? What does that have to do with our culture? What does that have to do with our history?” he asked.

Further, he said foreign artists are treated with the respect and appreciation not shown to the local artists. “And we are supposed to sit back and accept that? No. Virgin Islanders we need to put an end to that,” he said.

De Castro has long been a proponent of Festival being celebrated to reflect the truest sense of the events that took place so many hundreds of years ago. Every year he writes complaining about the deterioration of what he believes should be the true sense of the celebrations.

16 Responses to “‘Why must we pay to enter Festival events?’ – asks Donald E. de Castro”

  • he is correct (14/08/2015, 09:28) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why should we have to pay after government injected almost a million of our tax dollars????
    • push pipe (14/08/2015, 09:43) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      SET OF THIEVES THAT IS ALL
      • Hmph (14/08/2015, 11:47) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
        You would have to pay me to attend any of this third rate event. The reason that it is expensive to get off island at festival time is not because of people coming in for the festival but because so many are trying to get off island.
    • Worried (14/08/2015, 09:58) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      BAD MANAGEMENT AND GREED!
  • i from here (14/08/2015, 10:31) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I never paid in my life to get in the Village and I never will.

    When its a pay night I stay far!

    After Festival Committee getting over $500k each year, I ain't paying a dime! That's my tax money!
  • qc (14/08/2015, 10:58) Like (1) Dislike (13) Reply
    does this fool know the cost of these things strupps
  • smh (14/08/2015, 13:34) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is so strange how the paid nights does be always full and the free nights empty???
  • Hmm (14/08/2015, 13:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    thats a real freedom fighter question. these people have no idea what their past was and what really happened to appreciate why something like this should be free to the public. the pride you have in your home and country alone should be the drive to make you want to do things for the love of it, not just artists and organizers but the citizens should be doing what they can to help and ensure a happy festival for the all.
  • Voter Too (14/08/2015, 14:25) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    How would government replace the money that they used or to make any revenue? If some of the shows are free that is good as in some islands only the launch of the festival is free. Then we complain no water, this road need fixing, the hospital needs this and that,etc. Anyway anything free take 10 but still we find money for the expensive shows and don't complain even if the show was of no quality.You really can't please people.
  • Skeptic (14/08/2015, 14:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I paid $30 on reggae night not $20.
  • Pundit (14/08/2015, 14:55) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with you 1000% DeCastro. I will be speaking to Hon. Myron to give my 2 cents on this matter. This thing is becoming less and less about Virgin Islands Culture and Emancipation, and more and more about commerce and pleasing the masses. It is utter nonsense. And to top it off, our artists are treated almost like slaves as well. It's crazy. Foreigners getting their money upfront and Virgin Islands artists must wait months on their money.
  • goat water (14/08/2015, 18:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
  • I say so (14/08/2015, 21:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Donald, you are so right on this one.
  • Because (15/08/2015, 11:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We pay because the government doesn't have the funds to.
  • bandman (18/08/2015, 11:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    all now i aint get pay yet and the foreign acks gone with their money.was 30 not 20


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