Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has revealed that the government plans to make loans available for persons within Dominica’s music industry, in excess of the allotted $500,000 stated in the national budget.
The loans, he explained at a press conference on Monday, will be accessible through the Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank (AID) Bank, at a concessionary rate.
“I announced at the annual shareholders’ meeting of the AID Bank, that the government intends to set up a special loan facility at the AID Bank, directed at musicians and the music industry in Dominica. All I will say at this time is that it will be certainly more than the half a million dollars which we announced in the budget,” Skerrit noted. “And, our hope is that we will be able to lend to the musicians at a concessionary rate. So, much lower than you will get at the commercial banks or at the other financial institutions.”
However, Skerrit highlighted the importance of responsibility stating that conditions would be placed on the loans.
“But, as I discussed with the Association of Music Professionals, there must be conditions… there has to be responsibility. Everybody in this country must take responsibility for himself first, and for his country, and for his family. So, there will be conditions,” he remarked. “We have not concluded on all of the conditions. We will be hearing from the association themselves as to what are some of the conditions they would like government to consider in placing on these loans.”
The Prime Minister stated that established training programs should determine persons’ eligibility to obtain such loans.
“But, one of the conditions which I believe should be there, and must be there, is that you would have to go through a process of training. If you serious about your well-being, if you serious about your future, if you serious about your job, you should be part of these training programs,” he articulated. “And, I believe that there has to be some commitment…”
Musicians’ plans, he said, must coincide with existing government policies.
“So, it’s not just about going to the AID Bank, and getting $100,000, and that’s it. It has to be part of a process. It has to be part of the whole strategy which we have—the National Export Strategy, and the Growth and Protection Strategy of the government—and, of course, the vision and the thinking of the musicians themselves,” Skerrit stated.
I really don’t know what is the PM’S agenda on this point with unexplained loans for the Music a Industry. The industry is already saturated as it is right now. Was there some kind of research done to find out what can be innovative in the music industry… What is new what are music lovers expecting… All of a sudden your interest in this music business has me a bit suspicious. Music is not your area. Leave this to the experts. Finally musicians do not need loans to drain them they need opportunities and support.however if these comes with a financial support even better…don’t burden the already struggling artist with an over bearing weight he / she will not be able to pay back… My advice to you is seek first how you and your Government can support the artists in the music industry to make them successful and self reliant…
that;s a joke 2 musical instruments will clean up that 500,000 box eastern caribbean..
again it shows how flat and poor vision of this regime not understanding the industry..
this sounds like another tricking angle…
dominica will continue to headline the fools paradise..
This is all good for music industry people to get funding, it’s a first and welcomed. But the same Gov’t has to step up the plate, take control of the nuisance aspect of loud music constant torture of neighbors in Dominica before it gets like Trinidad where some neighbors take law into their own hands, the result is very ugly. In Dominica they proudly claim they are torturing their neighbors with the blessings of the Gov’t and police let them use this loud music torture any time of day till 11:00pm. This has to STOP!
People spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on their homes and cannot enjoy their homes without this noise.
Gov’t has to STOP this, control music volume, it is killing some neighbors. Do not let Dominica get like Trinidad where neighbors take law into their own hands just because police and gov’t will not help.
They know the little rum shops and others selling just bakes and acra with hugh loud speakers torture neighbors under protection of Gov’t and the…
I feel you, this has gone too far. it seems only those who are directly affect or live next to the offenders are concerned, while others just stop by have a drink, buy some bakes then go to their quiet homes and leave the offended elderly and neighbors in this mess of loud sound. Isn’t this the government that claim to champion for the elderly? what is going on?
What is Macarthy Marie’s cut?
Consultation fee…..I suppose. But you must give him props for advocating copy rights though.
So what about dem dying businesses in Roseau and Dominica???? When most of dem close down dem bands will come and play. Smh…….
How could something like that make any sense?
If Skerrit intends to give money to get the so called people involved in a none existent industry to ensure their votes, next election, it would be much better to come out and say so. What is the purpose of the loan?
Are they going to buy instruments, electronic equipments, are they going to build recording studios, what’s the purpose?
Banks nor private entities do not loan entertainers money based on a wish, or predicted sale of records, because that song, may never sell; unless it becomes a hit record! There are people sang all of their natural life died and never score a hit record!
One of the reason there are music produces is that they have the money to sign a singer to a contract, the cover the expense for travel recordings ect. If the recording (song) is successful, and sells the higher the sale the more the producer collects, most of the time they loose all of their money.; that is another five hundred thousand…
That is another five hundred thousand dollars that is going to be flushed down the toilet, or thrown into a backyard pit-hole to cover the stench of the feces of these loans will emit!
Skerrit knows such loans will never be repaid: the people of Dominica need to wake up, and put a stop to all of this, only in a place like Dominica people are so hungry for money that they allow themselves to be bought.
I would hope that the recipients of such loans have some sort of collateral to secure the loan, if not the loans would be considered fraudulent and bogus, hence, the stamp of corruption will be on every loan given!
500 000 ec$ for music!!!!!! that was the most urgent thing to do for sure !!
roads, bridges, family from petite savane and all the villages affected by the storm….CAN WAIT !!!!!!!
i’m the PM, nothing can stop me and I need to ear good supporting lyric when I fill up my brown envelops !!!!!.
Let me make it clear to my fellow Dominicans what this article is ACTUALLY saying. It says that our musicians can now get loans from the AID Bank IF they are compliant with the Government’s agenda, IF their lyrics are consistently pro-government and IF they make themselves known as supporters of the Government by praising the Government on GIS, Kairi and DBS! So…Artistes, now that my good friend Roosevelt Skerrit will be giving you a serious time to “shine” at the WCMF you better make sure you say publicly how much the Government (one man) has done for you! Lyrics should sound a little like the following:
I love my P.M.
He is the best!
I love Kairi
And GIS!
I vote Labour
and always will!
I red red red
I red until!
Because AID Bank money
made my life sweet!
With proper Labour lyrics
On a Labour beat!
Labour ka twavay
that’s all I know!
So I record my music
In a Labour studio!
I’m not from Salisbury
or Marigot!
People think that I’m from Wesley
but I’m…
DWL hahahahahahaahaha aye i hear the beat on that one eh!!
Skerrit buying up the musicians early. While Skerro bringing down Destra and co. again, next elections – is only Dice and a local lapaeau cabrit band that will come on stage to sing for UWP
Is this the responsibility of the “AM?” And where is the money coming from? Noticed that he never can say where he gets the money from.
Never in my life have I heard so much nonsense. If anybody needs any further evidence that this government is totally useless, than I do not know anymore. Is this really the most pressing issue on the agenda of a government that surely has more pressing issues to consider? Music Industry….? Anything else? Maybe some cheap loans to open more rum shops? Maybe some cheap loans for more vehicle rental companies?
all you really underestimating the value of the music industry.
remember Dominica is a small economy.
when a musician performs abroad, that is a net input of money into our economy.
musicians have to live somewhere,
they have to eat.
we have to look seriously into tradeable services, for example IT.
imagine if Dominica could export its IT talent.
imagine that..
the government should open the bidding process for IT projects.
Lightbulb, and what if the musician put his money in an off-shore account? Yes, musician have to live somewhere but not obliged to live in Dominica. If you have money there are many places that are easier to live, with decent roads, medical care and easy access for instance. When you famous you want to be a martyr and bring all that money for Roosevelt Skerrit to tax you? Be real my boy.