Businessman Emile DePooter has said that the lack of sponsors for the 2016 Carnival Queen contestants is largely due to the approach of the Dominica Festivals Commission (DFC).
DePooter said that he is “not surprised” that businesses in the private sector have not come forward as sponsors for the contestants, because they do not receive enough “value for money.”
“I am not surprised, because, I mean, for a number of years now, me, as a business person on Dominica—and even from being part of the DFC also—can tell you that it is just too much… It is not value for money… We should be able to sponsor Queen contestants, but what value do we get for our money?”
He reminisced on a time when sponsors were able to fully and directly support a chosen contestant.
“Back in the day, for instance, when I was at Brisbane…we had sponsored Marcella Larocque. We were able to actually have Marcella under our wing, right? And we were able to take control of everything, and use Marcella well beyond the Carnival Queen show,” he said. “And we did everything…in terms of getting her dress, getting different things.
However, he stated that that method was changed by regulations introduced by the DFC, allowing them to control the areas over which the sponsors had control.
“The DFC changed it up, where you have to give them the money, so have to give them that $15,000, and they will do everything, and they are in control of everything. And that is where I believe the problem is.”
He suggested that sponsors should once again be allowed more involvement in the preparation of their chosen contestants, in addition to more business-related benefits.
“Maybe if the DFC would say ‘okay, here you are…(any one of the companies that you want to use), this is your girl, for Carnival and beyond, and this is what you can do with her’, then you can use that person, and get value for money…even if the young lady doesn’t win, but you can use her in photo shoots, for promos, for advertising,” he explained. “I am sure the business community would see a lot more value for money instead of giving the DFC $15,000…and then you get about two weeks of promotion from that.”
He said he was extremely doubtful that any business will come forward so near to the date of the competition to sponsor any contestant, especially considering that sponsors are not allowed any involvement and concern.
“Unless there are some people with some real disposable income—and by ‘disposable income’ I mean somebody who just has money sitting around somewhere that they not sure what to do with it, and they just feel generous that they can just give it out, I doubt that you’re going to see anybody coming up on this eleventh hour to assist the Carnival Queens.”
DePooter urged the DFC to “go back to the drawing board” to find a more suitable arrangement that will appeal to business owners, to give them the confidence to sponsor a contestant and know that they would have some degree of control in their investment.
“Work a little earlier… In August… the DFC said…they were going to be working on Carnival, right? So, if they were working on Carnival from since August, by now they should have had sponsors and so many other things in place already,” Depooter noted.
I am laughing out louddddddddddd. Ask them to go to Karl Nassief/ DLP for sponsorship of the queen contestants. They are the ones who demolish the NDC/DFC for $1.00. In Peter Prosper voice “take that in all you face”. In days of NDC/DFC under Sheridan Gregoire, Deceased Eddie Toulon, Jeffrey Brisbane, Val Cuffy, Ronald Lander, we would already have our girls sponsored. Labour working!!!!! . Where is Spider? he must be singing loud in his grave…..Dominica going down slowly
Well said Emile. I do agree with you. For sponsoring $15,000 and just 2 weeks of promotion is just not enough. The sponsors of said contestants should be allowed time for their monies spent. DFC needs to do better than that and come up with a better plan than just taking $15,000 with nothing in return!!
The problem is the opposition who is always on the media talking all kind of rubbish and spreading false propaganda which poisons the minds of the good citizens thats is why the sponsors holding back.
Well said..ce vway mem.. back to the chalk board..drawing board toe pity…first of all the organizers needs to take a rest…yo lass..500% Mr depooter..I concur 1000 percent
Emile Depooter makes a lot of sense. This might be one of the reasons, but there might be other underlying issues. I think one of the other reasons is bad or no planning. They know the date for carnival in advance so they should have a plan way in advance to do all the tasks needed, including getting sponsorship. They should also assess issues (lessons learned) they encounter after every carnival and determine what they should do in the future to ensure they do not occur again. It makes sense that the sponsors should get some value for their money – if they want to have some control over THEIR money, they should be allowed that right. Let’s hope they learn from this problem and try a different approach next year.
i convinced my company to donate 100,000 to the carnival assoc.they did not even give me a free ticket to the show. no class
Emile always know what must or must not be done… Roseau dirty… He not saying anything…. Economy in trouble …. He silent…. Businesses struggling…. Emile silent. … Govt spend thirty million on an election campaign…. Emile not saying anything….. But on queen show and poor dfc he have his strength…. Emile stop picking and choosing what to speak on….
He should speak on what you want him to speak on?
A serious re-think, review, reform of all these pageant, teen and queen show need to be done and value of these events. All the girls are beautiful and attractive. Dominica is blessed. However we don’t really get to see or know whether they truly talented, creative or intelligent. How many of these events can Dominicans really attend and are we suppose to be surprise when profits are not made. How many of these events are properly organised. Has any thought been given to letting the parishes choose a girl to represent them and the money needed is shared between them and any private company will to help????
On the other hand businesses exist to make profits and sponsorship is usually a marketing tool to maximise those profits. Businesses are not charity. I believe the money set aside for sponsorship might be better spent by giving employees a bonus, since they are instrumental in making that profit.
I am Frank Taker, and I approve the comments by Emile Depooter. Interestingly, not even the DFC makes valuable use of the contestants.
I totally agree…I always thought so myself…and there needs to be a more vibrant Carnival Committee…the sponsors have to take care of their girl…yes DFC will see about the main things…they have to start much earlier to prepare….take note of the management of Miss Teen…good job Waitikubuli Dance Theater
another thing to note…..all the other pageants have sponsorship………….why??? they are not being organised by the DFC.
Lets think about that for a moment….its very interestinga
I know of many business men who continuously receive duty free.. Some bring in 5 vehicles on one transaction and they are not car dealers. I know of merchants who during election campaign were delivering building material night and day all over the island. Gas stations selling passports.who selling fertilizer; Emile stop the crap and speak honestly.
Perhaps we need Emile on board the DFC… we wouldn’t have had such a dead parade. I kept on looking wondering where’s the parade. Like what the **** was that?
It is very interesting that Emile tried to shore up his theory with one case – Marcella Laroque. But Marcella was more than 25 years ago. It is very shameful that Emile refuse to mention the fact that the economical environment is very bad for the businesses, especially those who over the many have contributed to the queen show.
Emile claim to be a straight shooter but deliberately so he cannot even hit a target that is bigger that mount Diablotin. Why Emile refuse to speak the truth. The idea of “Value For Money” is pure abatoire waste. Why? just when the event need support more than ever that ALL merchants pull off in unism. What happen to all hands on deck.
Lets say that there is credibility in the ” value for money ” issue. Why is that so. Is it that the economy is so bad that when ta merchant make charitable contributions they do so when there is confidence in the economy?
I think you are missing the point…now that may be deliberate or you are unable to face facts. There is an internal organisational issue that needs to be address and that is management of the sponsored funds and value/benefits to the business sponsoring the funds. DFC sets the rules stating how much should be spent item clothing for the different activities, but allow the sponsors to take pictures and advertise their services/products. DFC can state when/where these advertisement should take place. This should be a win-win for both parties.
Almost like a purchase then. Could it be that the DFC wants to ensure that the contestants are not exploited?
So when you cancel independence and wcmf where businesses make the most money, and they have to use the little they have to recover from Erika, where will the money come from to spnsor queens?? When people cannot see past their noses this is what happens. Wcmf is wining on a woman with 2 kubuli in your hand not true?? It was not a busines opportunity at all… well look it now. DFC supported the cancellation so they should accept the consequences.
I assume businesses are saying to the government that they did not give them the chance to make money during WCMf but they want to make sure they sponsor queens. clearly how I see things is people have left every thing for the government to do> probably because people figure out is one set that benefitting so let them spend on sponsorship. I really think Dons and Divas, Desiderrata, Petro Caribe, Astaphans, A.C.S Anthony Astaphans, Lennox Lawrence and more should sponsor a queen at least to save the government all that embarrassment.
Over the years sponsors are asked to give all the money to DFC with a few exception. That money is pooled. The greater benefactors are the red crew who do the hair styling and make up (like it or not)
Look at the ladies over the years for opening of carnival city, one note. Hair, makeup, clothes…same crew. At the end they pick up their fat cheques.de money stay in the Labour party circle..red or you dead.
The year that Francine won…who made the clothes for the opening number the night of the show? Ask the big people in that same DFC. The money stayed in the family.
Just 2 year ago the DLP spent over 30 million dollars campaigning.
The money’s that was spent here went to a few poor people to buy windows and galvanize. A large portion went to Barbados to purchase posters and for flying in voters. Now allu want the businesses that git no benefit from all these millions to give allu free money?
All of them in DFC that was on the red train…let DLP give allu money
From experience. DFC wants the sponsor to give them all the money and the young ladies and their teams have to be begging DFC for money each time the girls need something. Sometimes the girls have yo make an appearance somewhere and need to buy item, next thing is DFC cannot give a check because you.need 2 signatures and 1 of the 2 persons isn’t present. It is a hustle for the contestants and their teams.
Sponsors have no say or power. But they can make better arrangements if they want…some of them just don’t know that they have that power.
Hmmmm when u take away the creative elements and allow cultural institutions to be dominated by people who consider themselves intelectuals thats the result . If Marva and Carlton were still at DFC we would have had a much better product for the opening . They were young but they had a passion for the culture and as Emile said people want value for money. The days of giving because u feel generous are over . The powers that be are all concerned about their budget but they want hard working business people to just give them money to do events while the budget given to them by the country is reserved to ensure their big saleries . Well go back to the drawing board as Emile said. We the artists and creative people finish work for free and the business man want value for his money . Build a stratigic plan around that .
we going down fast look out
I am yet to understand this. How can a business place in Dominica, in this day and age, with the state of the economy, afford to just give out $15,000? This is a waste of resources. How can sponsorship be so expensive? These shows have become a nightmare. Besides the money from the sponsors, the contestants put in so much of their own resources, exactly what is the benefit here? Does anyone benefit? The show has been crying foul for so many years and stating that they are operating at a loss. Well, as Mr DePooter said, go back to the drawing board. This is way beyond us!! We cannot copy Miss Universe. Make the show simple and cut cost. All these launchings and appearances and dinners, we can do without. Use some common sense. As for me, being a small business owner, I could never spend $15,000 on a queen contestant even if money was flowing out of my nose!
Good point EP. Tell it like it is.
Mag way San. What level of disorganization is this.
coming at the 11th hour to say no sponsors.
Every one needs to be fired. Unprofessionalism.
These fools know the recurring problem. Yet every year S.O.S.
What steps or incentives have been taken or given to attract sponsors.?
shameful!!!
I agree. I know the young ladies are well prepared you can see the results of Dominica in the Top three all the time, But the Marketing is poor from the DDA end. Where are product and marketing officers, what are they doing instead of working against the Dept that feeds you – work and market the carnival. Market of the Carnival product is the real problem.
I must commend the Queen Show Committee they have guts, under that they produce go contentants. I find people bask them on facebook etc I feel is just jealousy.
Lets work together to get sponsors for the young ladies, Its a shame on the way our carnival is marketed.
With all what was said by mr.depooter it clearly shows we do need a change of those in charge.Also how are the companies sure that all of 15 grand is being spent on the contestant.No two ways about it sponsors should be given back full responsibility of their contestant like the old times.
Well ask Mr. Trump for sponsorship, you never know.
THIS made me laugh…….
This is such a shame , this is so much a shame, look at the business houses that was well supported by the GOVT the state did so much business with those car Dealers in the last two years alone,
Carlton Phillip/Motor pool Honda dealer/Toyota seller,,, about an estimated twenty (20) GA license plate vehicles including all the last (4) ambulances and (4) Isuzu pickups, almost (10) Toyota Pickups all GA vehicles about $ 5 million or more in business.
Auto trade/ Nissan/Kia/Suzuki Dealer about (50) GA Govt Vehicles estimated in the last two years
Astaphan/Mitsubishi Dealer about (10) ten or more GA Mitsubishi Pickups in the last 24 months thereabout
AL Motors Alvin lewis, Mazda Dealer Toyota Prado SUVs Executive /Mazda Pickups GA Vehicles
Acme garage Karam Ltd Ford/Hyundai/Daihatsu Dealer estimated about (50) GA license plate GOVT Vehicles in the last few years,
Mr Piper, u see how nasty the car dealers are, we are all so nasty, it is a shame
karam you doe tired cry the govt not buying ur vehicles? geez man, get over it!
The real reason is in the second to last paragraph. Businesses are not making enough profits to sponsor. That’s the only reason I believe. If they were they would not be worried about using contestants for total business control.
You are free to believe what you want, its a democracy, who cares really?
No money no Love. How can we sponsor queen show when Skerrit doing all he can to keep us broke? I mean vedors crying, farmers crying, store keepers crying, those in tourism crying, those that were a little better off crying, even Chinese stores crying. We need to face the reality.
2015 is the worse holiday season Dominicans have ever experienced and, don’t blame it on Erika because we had David and others, but we always had a government people could trust which is not the case this time.
Most of our stores are owned by Chinese and they make the most money because they are able to sell cheap things. But they will not sponsor anything here as all their money goes back to China.
Emile cannot sponsor because when he got an opportunity to make some money during the last election, Skerrit ordered his printing stuff from Barbados, and Bajans will not sponsor.
Those that selling our passports are the only ones making money but they will not sponsor.
Toney making money from lawsuit…
Why can they not approach the Chinese business ones? They reside in Dominica and are conducting business there. They should be interested in Carnival and in sponsoring a few contestants..
Your comment is rubbish Everything is political for you people. Time to wake up . You all people are to narrow minded…. you all need to read more ad educate yourself ..THE TALK SHOWS RELECT how poorly you all engage the host or comment on issues
You are so right they never gave anything back to the country not even after Ericka
Think I tend to agree with Mr Depooter!! Is the company’s contestant so let the work with her freely!!!
I agree with you 110%
Emile you need to read more so you are able to speak better. You explain yourself like a first form high school student, but I agree with you 100%. Businesses only invest in ventures that are comercially viable.
You love to hate him right? Lol it sure seems like it!
I think explainations should be as simple as possible& especially when the message is being made publicly. Besides, if you want to be negative, blame the reporter… or wait… just refrain from being negative. Smh.
my friend thats just the problem we have in dominica you all read tomuch and have no time to understand thats why they have you all like fulls at the back of doors people like you so can spake go seat with emile and teach him what you dont know your ……………..
I agree with your comment this prove to me one thing that those so called people who were in high school were only there because of name and influence.. Less fortunate children are more educated then them so called Bourgeoise,they just did not have the opportunity..
How the man need to read more? Chuuuuupes! It is part of our culture to speak dialect. If he has to be all professional, he would have to break it down for you small minded people
He reminisced on a time when sponsors were able to fully and directly support a chosen contestant.
“Back in the day, for instance, when I was at Brisbane…we had sponsored Marcella Larocque
Emile that is part of the problem but you left out the main reason. The main reason is the state of the economy in compared to when you were with Brisbane.
First of all, good companies that gave back to the country like Brisbane / Breezy mart went out of business, thanks to Charles Saverin / Skerrit/ and the DLP that encouraged Dominicans to boycott them
Secondly, Don’t forget Skerrit and the DLP cancelled the WCF in Nov, that used to bring money to Dominica, so the world would see Dominica as a crippled and send money; unfortunately that did not work since they could not trust Skerrit
Thirdly, Christmas was another time business places use to make money but this year up to this day, Christmas still has not arrived in Dominica, thanks to Skerrit’s keep them poor mentality.
You sond like a real RAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSTA
Remember, UWP agreed to the cancellation of World Creole Festival
This astute Businessman is absolutely right. I have always said that along with the sponsorship deal, there should be a spokes – model component where the business gets the opportunity to use the contestant as a representative for X amount of time. This could include photo and other media advertising, radio and television exposue, signage as well as sponsor related appearances. I understand if the DFC is asking for a standard amount to be handed over, I don’t think the business should take the place of the contestant ‘ s team as relates to training or styling but surely they ought to get contractually binding representation. I cannot believe in 2016 that the DFC is still not treating carnival and this pagaent, as a commodity and a bussiness. Come on folks, you can do better!
Let the labour party sponsor one. For election they had destra, carimi, Donnie mcckirkin,Tasha cobbs and the list goes on. Now for carnival, the DFC like puppies begging for money. Skerro and dem cannot pass something under the table. Stupes. Poor queens. Next year worse
Your comment is rubbish Everything is political for you people. Time to wake up . You all people are to narrow minded…. you all need to read more ad educate yourself ..THE TALK SHOWS RELECT how poorly you all engage the host or comment on issues
EP , You have been very critical of the DFC, its time you make a push to be part of the DFC and inject some of those ideas you have or SHUT UP.
He was already with and and he left most likely because of the way they do business which is not viable so YOU SHUT UP
Garson Emile everyday I appreciate you even more. You hit the nail on the head and they will be coming for you but I know you can take care of yourself. Very Well said!
Assertive, Never Aggressive!
Mr Depooter is very correct in his criticism of the Dominica Festival´s Commission. I don´t understand why the government wants to micromanage everything. I think the businesses are quite capable of taking a girl under their wings and providing all her preparation needs for the competition. As he mentioned, the companies must also get value for money. Why does the DFC want to do everything? Is it because they think that the companies are not able to, or that they (DFC) want to use the bare minimum on each contestant and pocket the rest? I am just saying that if they delegate as they used to do in the past, we will see a better quality show …. A win – win for everyone. I believe the DFC should sit with Mr Depooter and come up with a tangible plan going forward. It is time we stop micromanaging everything in this country.
i agree the government LOVES to micro manage that is at the heart of all dominicas problems .they want to to everything so they will be in control of every aspect
That is exactly what I have been saying. Which begs the question: what does the staff of DFC do in the year preceding carnival? Everything seems to be done at the last minute.
The failure of the DFC to get sponsorship for the girls is a systemic issue with the tone set by the minister of cultural affairs. It is reflective of the control mentality set in place by the Labour led government, which has failed to move the economy forward, just like is resulting with this lack of sponsorship for the contestants.Too much control doesn’t work and has never worked.When something is working well only fools seek to change it because they want control. So where is the sponsorship money going to come from? Poor tax payers,the Skerritt led government just don’t know how to get things done.
Seriously, he makes a lot of sense in this article. Although there is always two sides to a story there are a bit of information in here that the DFC can learn from. Exactly one of the reasons why Shadow Flow moved away from de rum and de party this year to let us know each one should teach one. Hopes DFC reads this article for what it is.
Would be interested to note the response to this one.
Well said! I couldn’t agree more.
I totally agree with emile. I also believe that entering the competition one should be made to pay fee or atleast support urself…in the event that this occurs….how u just broke and waiting for sponsor nah…the contestants could also be made able to shop foe thwir own sponsors..be able to speak and sell their product whichbis themselves.
On another carnival note…this is the worst opening I have seen…I been around for 30 years…OMG…they try to control and pick and prode and be all tense about things that make the kanaval wat it is…it was a mess and that hifi thing was more shit…stuuupps….leave d carnival preparation to people who actually want to be in it and to persons like emile who undersatnds what dominican sewo looks like…dey so doe want to have kkk dem on d road….dey say dey not paying dem eh…smh…dominica sewo crowd is young ppl…how u expect not to have live bands nuh…stuuupppssss
Is that..toneh..bunch of boring tired organizers