The government of Dominica could be pumping more resources in the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) to make sure it is sustainable and remains on the island’s shores.
The curtains went down on the 16th edition of the show in the wee hours of Monday morning and acting Prime Minister Ambrose George said all will be done to keep the show going in Dominica. “And if the sustenance of the show means that we have to pump more resources into it then we have to,” he said.
The government is one of the headline sponsors of the annual event and according to George, if it is not sustained other islands ‘will snatch it and run with it.’ “We certainly cannot afford to let that happen, we will do everything that is possible to ensure that the show remains here, that the show is sustainable, that the standard and the quality are met, and we move to the next level, if you want to say it, and ensure that the show in Dominica remains the number one show,” he stated.
Meanwhile Tourism Minister Ian Douglas said the organizers of the show should maintain the first night as ‘Dominica Night.’
Earlier last week Prime Minister Roosevel Skerrit announced that the government had declared Friday night at WCMF as “Dominica Night.” He indicated that the decision was taken in recognition of the fact that Dominicans have been supporting the festival for the past 16 years.
Douglas said when the festival was conceptualized its intent was to give upcoming artistes a place on the world stage to perform on and launch their careers. He noted that the idea of ‘Dominica Night’ should remain to give young Dominican artistes the exposure they need. “I think we should look at Friday night and make it traditionally a ‘Dominican Night’ where all our young bands could be exposed,” he pointed out.
The show has gotten high praise from Liason Officer for Diaspora Affairs, Laureen Bannis-Roberts. “I would rate it as being successful in terms of attendance, in terms of ambiance, in terms of the general comments you hear from the patrons,” she said. “It’s good for Dominica, it’s good for the economy and it is fitting that we are having a World Creole Music Festival, the 16th edition, in honor of our late icon Jeff Jo.”
Acting Prime Minister George did however pointed to certain things that need to be tightened up.”One of the complaints or comments that we have been hearing is the time spent on interchange, that is from one band to the other,” he said. “We have to pay serious attention to that because if one has to add up the amount of time that was spent between bands or the changing of one band to the other for the night show, that would account for two to three hours.”
He is recommending the installation of two stages, so that while one band is performing on one stage the other is setting up on the other. “I think the patrons would certainly enjoy a change of that nature,” he said.
Still trying to wonder why the festival is making a loss.. when you have a NON DOMINICAN Natalie Clarke Meade who doesn’t know a word of creole organizing a creole festival and looking to Wadix to suggest persons for a line up.. i mean what the hell you expect. I’m glad that it was announced that Friday night is Dominica night! This will definitely help the young artists who are trying to make a living here in this hard economy… This DFC committee needs to be reshuffled and introduce young innovators to assist with the planning. too much old ppl trying to entertain young ppl when really they don’t know what young ppl will enjoy…this WCMF will fall if you guys doing revamp!
You have some good opening points. However the festival is for every body in the world, young and old. ‘World Creole’.
in my humble opinion this is the worst of the 16.we better be careful.
as an outside coming for the past 16 years i must say you so right.
kinda tru, apart from damian marley,tarus riley,crossfire,and onion or however he spells his name, this year could be a little better, lineups should be more captivating
Funds? Too many free pass…everybody n their mother had season pass
DA have kikzzz!!!I could care less….food I want for me to eat…(just saying)
we just need an international airport t capture alot more people, if another island decide to have it then they will make billions because they have greater air capacity.
All the visitors I spoke too preferred the G/will Savannah to the Stadium. There should be two stages.
The creole festival can be a four day even. That would encourage longer visitor stay, hence more spending. The 4 days could cover Friday to Monday. If Al saints falls on a Monday, have it on the Saturday afternoon. The fourth night should be the Dominica variety bonus night and should include various music.
The NCU cadence winner should perform at all events.
The cost of the first three nights seasons ticket $250.00. 100$ a night in advance or $120 at the gate. The fourth night, Dominica night $50 in advance or $75 at the gate.
Get some good people creative ideas.
Gordon Henderson..chairman.. has good connections with the creole countries. Get Sheridon G on board. He has successfully done a number of events in Da. That is the man’s forte’.
If there is no gov’t hostility, Norris P should be on board; that may happen if rutweiler imput is not allowed. I fraid Karl. Include the methodical and good planners like Matt, Lennox, Alex, Emile D, Pat A, Ghost; and I’m sure there’s more.
Ask Tony A to donate 1 million dollars towards the stage yearly, seeing that he is so embarassed with too much money. He has not given one poor child a scholarship when he could afford to give more than two thousand.
More to follow on let’s unite & talk.
I totally support the argument for the Goodwill/Savannah venue being the best.
Perhaps they should show the reggae part of the celebration at the stadium and the more local feel at the Goodwill/Savannah
They feel more together at the G/will savannah. @ caribbean mix up suggestion for the opening of stores is good food for thought for the orgainers to work on.
Also include Asome incentives. Get Lime and Digicel to offer top up for the buyers of the first 50 tickets; be it season or daily. $10.00 top up per month for one year; terms and conditions applied.
Another incentive for the next one hundred buyers. It could be world creole music fesival caps donated by NCB, NCU, WHITCHURCH etc to the festival committee.
Good luck….may prove friutful. Might reap millions.
yet most of the stores close at 2pm so how is the visitors to shop, open the stores on Saturday and Sunday, i was in Roseau and most of the stores was close after two.
goodwill savanah!!! u mad man uself
The World Creole Music Festival was the brain child of the United Workers Party when they were in government from 1995 – January 2000. They created that event to help increase tourism arrivals and foreign exchange earnings and help sustain the economy and also as a means to attract investments in the international airport development project and the hospitality and tourism sector. If any government is to go on record has creating a new source of foreign exchange earnings for the country then the UWP government of 1995 – 2000 should be given that credit… dem man in that laba powder government just have talk… and using what other people create to make milestone and they more hurting it… just talk about investments… 4th in the oecs, yet we cannot attract any new business… putting it on paper is one but living up to it is an other… they know selling drugs to build their big mansion and buying expensive ride easier… wicked… your souls not even reaching purgatory…
where UWP would get $$$$ to maintain the show, already they couldnt even pay ppl salaries… under dem creole fest would be long gone!!!!
When the PM announced the change, the local populace was totally thrilled as for some that was the first opportunity to attend the festival. The persons who were upset were the organizers because they believed the PM went against their wishes.
These organizers are just about money and Profits. Their families and friend all walk in free with either a picture pass of a complimentary ticket, the entire Cabinet gets and envelope of complimentary tickets, some even call back to ask for more for the girlfriends they forgot on the first list while forgetting the low income Dominicans who live from hand to mouth. Its time you guys understand that this is a country activity, the festival is not supposed to make money. On the contrary the country is the only concern where money should be made, and this will be done by the influx of people who visit and spend on the island. The hotel and accommodation facilities, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, even the government thru the added departure tax, our beautiful touristic sites thru the visitor fees. These are the places where money will and should be made. Stop the focus on the damn festival making money and think of the spin off effect it has on the lives of the many hoteliers who cry daily, and they cry to the same tourism officials so they should have a heart.
PM I am calling on you to lower the festival fees for all night in the future, $50 for night one and $75 to $100 night 2 and 3 to allow the lower income Dominicans to enjoy the entertainment too.
i believe that the festival is too expensive, that is why i stopped attending for some years. i made a come back this year and i regretted it
when the pm said the price 4 friday drop from 120 to 50 some persons said so many negative things on the other hand is the same government they callin on to make more funds avalable to the wcmf why our people so ignorant
firstly………… i dont understand how every year wcmf never making a profit when they giving out more passes and fre tickets like food stamps…………. gosh and they need to bring down more enjoyable artist every year is the same thing….. and lastly them organisers need to learn to plan and manage a festifal cuz that is crap.. just saying.
DNO it would be great for us to discuss whether or not we are ready for political debate. I believe it is news worthy that PH D Ambassador A, productivity expert Parry B and head of GIS Mervin P declare Dominica unfit for any political debate between political leaders.
This is a great topic for discussion DNO ( this is just a suggestion and not a dictation to “set your agenda”. I am sure that Dominicans except those with the poule la cour mentality would like to discuss this issue.
I enjoy our festival but this year i could not attend night three due to work schedules. I really had plans to comfort myself with a radio announcement and a radio broadcast but when the “lady of song” and the “rising star” decided not to broadcast their performance it really hurt my feeling. Why don’t these artist let the fans know in advance that their recordings will not be carried live. These two artist have hurt hundreds of fans and i am sure at your net staged show you will reap exactly what you sowed last night.
Disgusting!
The “lady of song” and the “rising star” did not just decide not to broadcast their performance. Please get your facts right. The DFC had permission to stream live for pay per view viewers. The broadcast on radio came into question because there is no agreement between the radio stations and the DFC to pay for the priviledge of braodcasting live. The decision was made at the last minute because of course artists want people all over to enjoy their performance but not for nothing papa bondyay. If the streamers have to pay a percentage of thier earnings to the festival for the permission to stream live, why should the radio stations not do the same? They get sponsorship and they sell advertising. Why can’t they contribute a percentage of that to the people who actually organise and perform at the event. Must we always have things for free in this country? Help the festival to grow by playing your part is what I say to the media who benefits tremendously from the festival and the performers on it.
government gives a check for $300,000 at the front door to say look what we’v done. Then runs round the back and enforces $500,000 of worthless VIP passes to the undeserving. Cut it down to 4 vip per ministry, and that’s that. if minister doesn’t wish to go, pass it on. secretaries secretaries need not get free passes.
Thanks for the suipson. The festival is poorly managed. Shame on them.
Diaspora coordinator !!!! Alas bondiuer ca nous fen Dominique qui fen nous malad con ca. That is all.
The thing that seem to be working under this Skerrit administration are just those policies that are intended to destroy the middle class strenghtening porverty and dependence while the yard fowls gather the corn and the guards shaking down the cow for the milk and cheese. It is for this reason the yard fowls are telling Dominicans that they ar not ready for political debate even when we have had political debates before and even when Skerrit challenged Ron Green for a political debate but then he ran away.
Do we understand why people like Parry Bellot will make a fool of himself while insulting Dominicans.
This Govt is blind, a tourist from the cruise ship just told me they never coming back to Dominica to much paros. U fellas need to do something to employ young people and address this problem of paros harassing tourist.
What we paying all u for? Stupes man!
Let us be honest with ourselves under this Labor party administration we have seen more distruction and inefficiencies among almost every facet of the government machinery. Instead of building the creole festival over the last 13 years we have seen blatant decline. The lact of creativity and bad management coupled with a lazy adminsitration.
Three days before the festival it was decided that Friday night would be a $50 dollar Dominican night. isn’t that a joke. A major festival – the only activity capable of jolting the already sluggish economy is runned on an iffy feeling type mentality. But then why am I not surprised. A hotel that was designed for the airport loction is suddenly being built near the cabrits area; The bishop published his biography and suddenly the ministry of education must purchase 100 of the bishop’s book – for what? I don’t know> But note that the decision was made by El Supremo de Dominique. We have fligh by night and sudden embassadors; sudden return of money to the tresury; sudden mistakes in taxes; sudden $400 K house ends up to be multi million dollar mansion- not withstanding the sudden millionaires.
We can jump high or low until Dominicans get rid of this burdensome Labor party we will continue plunge into chaos and desturction. In the meantime they continue to scheme and create avenues to avoid prosecution for major crimes committed while in government. Keep running you guys can run but you cannot hide.
blah! blah! Blah!
O boy, there is a disease blowing in the wind and it is called madness. Madness in how we run tings. Madness in Tony the liar who covers for the night of the fire. Madness in Ambassador A who tells such dreadful lies, it makes one gasp and stretch one’s eyes. It will only take the honest, just & wise, to have them pay for all their lies. L who has a strict regard for truth, will unravel and protect I & I and the youth.
How about a permanent venue where these shows are staged? Benjamin’s Park comes to mind. How about hosting a few events in Portsmouth to help boost the economy there.
How about spending money on roads, education, healthcare and an airport?
This petty politics in Dominica must stop.How can you have a Dominica’s nite, our thing and we leaving out our king? KING DICE!HE IS A RECORD BRAKER!5 TIMES CALYPSO KING.There is no excuse for that,even if his songs does not glorify allyou government,this is downright childish.Doe tell me he sang with C K and that’s O K.Fanatic can back him up,you guys must get pass that partisan politics,that is killing the country,COME ON MAN!!
so true, and i thought some of this year’s calypsoes would have been showcased
Could some one tell me what is the cost for a VIP ticket, thousands of these tickets are being given welly nilly to people in high places who can afford to pay or donate some funds to the WCMF.I can see Digicel,LIME, NCBD and other prominent business places who wants to entertain their patrons,come up with the idea to have their VIP tickets printed out for their patrons.
I cant see Government and DFC having VIP tickets issuing to the ‘big boys’ and others, people who know people who know people to come to have a “bon tan'{good time} to see how many whisky’s on the rock, guinnese and food they can consume during the feastive season. When they are already running the WCMF at a lost, as I said i dont know whether these VIP tickets are going at a cost. I would like to know.
All the same, I think that they had a wonderfull show this year
next yr i will come, if they bring down capleton
every one in favour say yeah yeah
ITS A VERY GOOD IDEA TO HAVE TWO STAGES .THAT WOULD LESSON THE LONNNNNG WAIT AND WE WOULD GET TO PARTY MORE
There is a need to seriously consider the position some artists are called on to perform. Typical example – Last nite of festival – Groovers (the Kings of Cadence having to play to an empty park)
Do you know those bands dictate where they want to play, check fact before making comments
Really? If so why dont they get to play during the prime slots. The slots are not dictated by the bands.
16 years strong and no one of these so called organisers sees it fit to recognize the founder of the festival namely EDDIE TOULON. Why is that? Remember he was the one who had the vision for young artists of Dominica to expose their skills in the musical arts.
Actually, on night 2 i think it was, Eddie Toulon and Mr. Gregoire were among those who were mentioned as the pioneers behind the WCMF.
That is so true. Is like Eddie never existed. Time to dedicate a festival in Eddie’s name. And if after 16 years the Festival cannot sustain itself and have to be relying on sponsors, something is very wrong. Gov’t privatize a bunch of their entities, and they want to be pumping more money into the festival.huh..awah. someting eh right
Great suggestion acting PM… thought of this myself… we need to always keep the audience entertained
Government’s priority is to pump money in the red clinic vote catching machine, not in the creole festival.Remember,Government use to give money for the national day of community service,where is that money.
Never mind that, …have Govt. paid all people they are owing money to.? Unbelievabley we heard Parry bellot on Q95 this morning saying even he has not been paid salary for four months!
It is because Parry is 90% unproductive. How comes you did not kno that? He is a guess work man. No pen, no paper, computer illiterate; hence no data.
i would not give him a dime. he brags too much
Pump more money into Creole Festival? WOW! First account for every cent for the past 16 years before anymore money is spent. All this money for 3 days of the year? And what about merchandising? Why is that not yet a first class division of the festival? If run well that alone would cover all costs and then some!
Dominicans so sot! cant do anything right but teef money and waste more money.
Time to let young heads take over this festival
(2 The person in charge of the gounds and the set up, could change things around bit, could try some thing new witht he stage location.Every year u attend this festival, u feel like is yesterday , u attended the last one because the setting are all the same. spice it up some more. suprise person when they enter the park.(3) stop giving us groups which are played out, there songs are not hot any more.
This yr was the first time I’ve seen decorations at the entrance (with plants flowers and fruits). It was a good idea. But I agree with you…more is necessary.
Garçon as long as allyou have Digicel as the major Sponsor for this Jam allyou in trouble,,,
Research Digicel and see who own dat company and allyou will see why allyou always getting a raw deal,,,
Government shouldn’t not only dump more resources into the venture but the Government should be d major sponsor Garçon and minimize Digicel’s input,,,
Get Digicel out of that bizniss and the Celebration(s) will be more exciting and the acts will be more in tune with D Zouk Vibes,,,
Another necessary change is to have a schedule of the night’s artists, AND the current performer available (on the screens) so that patrons dont have to guess who is performing at the time, or who is coming on next. When I missed the announcement I was lost.
THE DOMINICA’S NIGHT IS A GOOD IDEA. I HOPE DOMINICA WOULD NOT BE OPERATING AT A LOSS.
you paying an artist US$40 000 and playing for a crowd of 2000. is not a loss they must make ??
why you think they never show the accounting books to d/cans ??