The country’s leader has pledged to dedicate one full year for the development of the local music industry adding that a half a million dollars have been set aside in the upcoming budget towards this initiative.
At a meeting with stakeholders of the music industry held at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium’s Conference room on Wednesday, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said although such an initiative would fall under portfolio of the Ministry of Culture, he will personally lead it for at least a year.
“I feel personally, I feel a deep desired to see our music industry to get to the level that it should get,” he noted. “I have taken over this aspect of it for the next year to ensure that the actions that we identify can in fact get the attention at the highest level. So in the interim, I will be taking the narrow portfolio responsibility of this aspect of it to ensure that we can move forward.”
He mentioned that half a million dollars have been allocated in the new financial year budget to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
“I will tell you, do not tell anybody this, but in the budget for example I have placed in a half a million dollars to go towards this initiative, to start things going,” he said.
Many of the island’s top musicians have reacted positively to the initiative by revealed by the Prime Minister.
Musician and member of the Association of Music Professionals (AMP) Michele Henderson-Delsol, stated that it is focused primarily on having the music industry up and running in Dominica which has been “kind of dormant for a while.”
“It’s a start,” she said in reaction to the money pledged by the Prime Minister. “Music is a very expensive industry and it is an industry that can generate a considerable amount of revenue and make an impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So we consider it a good start.”
She vowed that AMP will plan along with the government and the various stakeholders on how best the funds are utilized for the development of the music sector.
“So I am very, very, thankful to the government for this initiative and we look forward to working with them, advising them on how the funds can be best spent to improve conditions,” Henderson-Delsol said.
One of the Directors of AMP, musician Daryl Bobb, also gave his view.
“I think this meeting marks history because we have not have direct opportunities to speak with any of our Prime Ministers in the past and I think it’s like a breath of fresh air where musicians can actually come and express themselves,” he said. “Moving forward, with the resources that we will receive, I think it will be a wonderful thing for Dominica because people like me will ensure that it will be properly spent because I am result oriented and I really commend the Prime Minister’s efforts for this opportunity and it is a start of wonderful things.”
In addition he saw the meeting as a “sensitization” for all parties involved.
“So it’s not just about the money, I think there is a bigger story, a bigger message in this than just the $500,000 because $500,000 can be spent in a day, but what message that stays with us can last a lifetime,” Bobb said.
“Never let a politician, grant you a favour…they will always want to, control you forever”. Bob Marley (Natty Dread Album) ‘Nuff said….
Big up to Nasio.
How was the half million dollar figure arrived at? What will it be used for? Let me say that music is an industry from which much money can accrue but here we have the same difficulty with this gov.: it cannot PLAN. True consultation should have taken place with ALL stakeholders and a way forward charted for the SUSTAINABLE development of the industry and it is my hope that this initiative will continue. But, by gower! why does the PM ALWAYS have to put his ministers in bad light? There is a ministry of Culture, why then, does the PM have to take it on for the first year? Is he saying that Honourable Justina Charles is incapable or untrustworthy? I hope not. That said, though, some money is better than no money.
HOTEP!
Skerritt did not consult with the stakeholders in the music business, to get their ideas/suggestions to shape the upcoming budget. The approach of that meeting was to announce the money being given.
What was their input in the decision? So Skerritt just decide, on his own, that is the amount that would be budgeted for them to improve the music industry? Where is the Ministry or Minister of culture in that?
Skerritt really believes everybody will fall for his one-man, know-it-all, money-giving-as-if-is-his. tomfoolery type of approach to development.
Where has the WCMF gone 15 Years under DLP rule? where has the Music Industry gone? Calypsonians facing pressure just expressing, in song, the injustices, corruption and bad governance in our country. Remember, King Dice was told to sing old road march tunes at our WCMF?
The Selling Passport Industry has offices all over, making millions for a few. That’s their economic pillar, not Music industry.
You know when I was a boy growing up along with some of Skerrit’s cousins, who are closely related to me; that’s how come Skerrit is me Almost Nearly Cousin. Anyway if we heard such as he is talking about one of his cousins favorite words he would used to dismiss Skerrit bleeping would be: ” old talk.” I have not seen that cousin of mine in perhaps fifty years, he called me last weekend, we communicated as we did so long ago. It was old talk as usual!
I do not know what Skerrit means by developing music. If he decided to include music in our school curriculum, that I would understand, because he would be ensuring that every child have the opportunity to be exposed to music, other than that he is simply entertaining his spelled bound audience with simple old talk! Dominica music will never make it out of the Caribbean, unless they come up with something better than Reggae!
I don’t want to sound negative, but wouldn’t it have been more prudent to do some consultation with artists and musician association, do some sort of feasability study to target a few areas or aspects of the local music scene to come up with a realistic base dollar figure to begin with?
This pledge sounds so wide open. That’s why the last time when such money was allocated (it was alledged) money was slyly syphoned to a certain ‘friend’. However, had this action here been done by previous administrations back in the seventies when musicians begged them to assist in any way shape or form, to take Cadence to the next level, Dominica’s music could have been or surpassed where Zouke took over and went. It seems if Skeritt has his way that will never happen again…I hope!
Why was the djs not invited? Djs are also producers of music and it takes the dj to push the music, That is one reason that local music is not played that much in dance floors unless it is a live session.
.We need music teacher who can teach music theory and composition in Jazz, Classical and Afro-Caribbean music. Our music knowledge and command on the instrument needs to be improve if we are to improve. If we can send a few musicians to Cuba where there are great teacher of music, then that would be great. We also have Berklee College of Music. If we educate the musicians in theory , composition and music business it will help us in generations to come. I want to thank the government for the effort but I am confident that if we spend the money on a few musicians it wont do us much good but if we improve music education in Dominica we will have many great musicians in the future
Onions reduced at Gree s Wholesale by $20.00
LOL. Sunshine we’re talking about music, not onions.
But thanks, I needed a laugh.
Is this really a priority for a bankrupt government? The music industry is full of questionable people, maybe that’s the attraction.
How about duty free on all musical instruments….?
yesssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Much needed attention. But please tell tripple K they need to start making better tunes, arrangements, and melody. Produce material that can move well beyond Trafalgar. If you want to know what I talking about listen to the Hatian bands of the past and the ones today. Get a good vocalist.
When we accept crap like what DBS and sour sour sing we are destroying the standard. I do not have to jump and dance to enjoy a band performance. We have to hold ourselves to high standards to become international. I am crying for the days of exile one and gramacks when we ruled the French empire. Dominica has the best and most diverse musicians in the Antilles.
Remember Skeritt, as finance Minister, announced in Parliament some time ago, that he would make available $1 million to help musical groups, musicians, bands as well as entertainment venues? Just to know that one well-known entertainment venue was the recipient of the bulk of that money.
Many concluded whether it was not a ploy to ensure that the 1/4 or 1/2 million went to the renovation of that particular entertainment spot. Dominicans are knowledgeable about that because local bands, musicians, singers, got nothing.
It’s not strange that Skerritt again feels that he is the one to take control of’ that aspect of the initiative’, to develop the music industry. He himself admits that such an initiative falls under the Ministry of Culture, but it seems is his thing. Admittedly, the Minister and Ministry of Culture do not have the capacity?
Huge payments for foreign artists election time. We dumb?
Artists continue to express the ills, corruption,…
For that reason……. ……I’m Out!
Skerrit hands in it? IT S A FAILURE!!
Can someone tell me why the PM would have a meeting with musicians and say “I will tell you, do not tell anybody this, but in the budget for example I have placed in a half a million dollars to go towards this initiative, to start things going.” What is this about DO NOT TELL ANYBODY THIS???? He is also, by removing the portfolio responsibility from the minister, suggesting that she is not capable of ensuring that this is accomplished I suppose? Why does everything need to be attributed to Roosevelt Skeritt??? And we say we are not headed to dictatorship??? When he has served his fifty years I guess that the call will be ‘IF NOT ROOSEVELT THEN WHO??’ The response will come shouting the name of one of his sons from high!!! Let us see where we get with this one………..
*****************GOVERNMET ALL THE TIME****************
Everything should not be the government alone!!
So where is the private sector in all of this. How much money have the “ABLE” companies pledge!!
Remember , when the music industry succeeds they too succeeds; visitors= money for their register!!
The private sector should take a more leading roll in this.
Still, best wishes!!
pre-budget goodies designed to sway the feeble minded. is the prime minister saying that the ministry of culture officials are incompetent? I mean with so much on the plate of the finance minister with the global economic crisis, job creation, cbi etc why sidetrack to something that can be handled by the minister you appointed?(kinda like a fireman going to make a sandwich while homes are ablaze. lol)
on another note I think the music industry in Dominica faces a harsh reality which is namely: underpopulation. for example a mediocre artist in the U.S sells 100,000 albums @$10 = $1000000
now this as a percentage of population is 100000/325000000 x100 =0.03% of the population.
in Dominica 0.03% of the population is 2100 which hardly allow the artist to recoup their investment. creative and innovative means need to be employed to develop an even marginally successful industry. my suggestion would be heavy investment in external marketing and publicity for our artists.
I smell a rat trying to get the musicians especially the calypsonians not to sing about the corrupt labour party leader,AND THE ROOSEVELT SKERRIT REGIME.Bobb especially you and DICE ,DONT FALL FOR THIS SCAM.
The One who pays the money calls the tune! I thought there was no money to fix Bawi Farmers road?
They got Tear Gassed by the Dominica Labour Police and out of the blue Musicians getting Half a Million so the Catholic Chuurch was a higher priority they got theirs first and the Farmers are last and had to be gassed ?
none of the above is true what is ? “It is all about Skeritt looking good by playing psychological games with the minds of the Poor Dumbminicans
Every rope has an end ………………………………………………………..
so everything in the country is the government that have to do it for you all or develop it for you all
the rest of the world must be saying what a lazy bunch of people in that country yuh
music industry government have to develop
agriculture government have to find buyers for your produce for you all and fix the road leading to your farm so you can plant and make money and still have to arrange the shipping of YOUR produce for you to
what else government have to do for you all
seems all the people want to do is sit by the side road and get stuff handed to them
where has the Dominica of the nineties gone to why are the people become so dependent on the carrot at the end of the stick
that’s why ill always be proud of the hucksters from dca yuh they will buy there produce organize to ship there own produce find buyers for there produce and then come back dca and do the same cycle all over
STOP WAITING FOR GOVERNMENT TO DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU ALL
That is what Your Leader wants ! But do not forget what we have done for Him ,We gave Him 5 more years even if He had to pay our ticket to come here to give it to Him .
Nobody knows where He got the money from to pay for so many of us to fly here to vote
It is all about Skeritt it is never about You .
Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said although such an initiative would fall under portfolio of the Ministry of Culture, he will personally lead it for at least a year.
Why is this so? If the minister of culture does not have to ability/capacity to manage the department, remove the minister.
It appears that the PM wants to do everything.
“….So in the interim, I will be taking the narrow portfolio responsibility of this aspect of it to ensure that we can move forward.”
If I were the minister I would resign
While this is a good initiative the mode of operation is backward. Leaders have to trust, delegate responsibility and collaborate but not necessarily get directly involved to score political points in a segment of the community. This is a welcome gesture by the government and policy implementation and execution should be entrusted to qualified individuals. There is an unappreciated message with this approach.