There’s a lot more to be done to enhance WCMF – Marva Williams

DFC Events Coordinator Marva Williams at WCMF news conference

Dominica Festival Committee (DFC) Events Coordinator, Marva Williams has said there’s a lot more to be done to enhance the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) in addition to what the DFC has already done in terms of meeting their mandate to put on an event that brings visitors into Dominica.

Williams said at a WCMF news conference on Monday that she would like to see more attention placed on the the local artists.

“I think we need to invest a bit more in the local artists in terms of educating them. It’s not only about putting a song together and singing on stage. How familiar are you with the music industry with what people are looking for?” she points out.

Williams suggests that attention also needs to be given to some aspects of the WCMF than need to be exported to ensure that the WCMF is successful.

“Looking at the production aspect in Dominica, do we have experienced and qualified enough individuals who are able to assist in the reproduction of the WCMF?,” the DFC official asked. “Are we comfortable with our security aspect of the WCMF and I’m talking about securing the grounds and manpower itself. There are so many things we have to consider just to not only enhance the festival itself, but to enhance the human resource of that aspect In Dominica. ”

Commenting on statements made about the lack of calypsonian performers on the line-up, Williams stated that there’s a process when it comes to choosing artists on the line-up; there is selection committee that chooses who performs at WCMF.

“ I don’t think it is fair to say that calypso has been intentionally eliminated from the line-up. I mean we have an artist like Tasha P who may deliver some form of calypso. Last year we had Swinging Stars on the line-up, two of their lead singers were calypsonians who also delivered some form of calypso medley on the festival stage. So, I don’t think it is fair to say that they have completely been eliminated from the WCMF stage.”

When asked if she still has the same energy for the Festival Committee as she did when she became involved in politics, Williams responded by stating that being part of the Committee has nothing to do with her personal beliefs or issues.

“I’ve been employed at DFC for more than 13 years. I’ve grown with the festival. I had my children while working with the festival. The WCMF has become part of me. Putting on the WCMF is not about my personal beliefs or the intended or apparent personal issues that people may think I have. It’s about Dominica; putting on a product that benefits so many people,” she explained.

She said it’s a pleasure to be part of the festival and gave the assurance that it is being implemented with greater vigour than in 2018.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

12 Comments

  1. No big deal
    August 17, 2019

    It’s only a stage show with one stage, not even multiple stages and sub events. So D’a isn’t capable of hosting Carifesta then?

  2. delbert
    August 15, 2019

    Is this a Kwéyol festival. Very little Créole. Mwen téké janmé asisté fèt la. S’ou vlé yon fèt mizik an anglé fè sa.

  3. Joe Linton
    August 14, 2019

    “Looking at the production aspect in Dominica, do we have experienced and qualified enough individuals who are able to assist in the reproduction of the WCMF?,”

    The simple answer is YES and if no then we can source the expertise from outside nothing wrong with that, we live in a global village for which we need to start embracing the opportunities within the challenges.

    “Are we comfortable with our security aspect of the WCMF and I’m talking about securing the grounds and manpower itself. There are so many things we have to consider just to not only enhance the festival itself, but to enhance the human resource of that aspect In Dominica. ”

    Well that’s a matter for YOU and your MANAGEMENT TEAM you should never mention that in public!!!!!

    • Hello?
      August 14, 2019

      Why you on Marva case so nah? All you labourites doh abuse Marva enough yet. Leave Marva alone eh. That’s my girl!

  4. Joe Linton
    August 14, 2019

    “I think we need to invest a bit more in the local artists in terms of educating them. It’s not only about putting a song together and singing on stage. How familiar are you with the music industry with what people are looking for?” she points out.

    Why can’t the local artiste themselves invest in themselves, why is it that “WE” need to invest in educating them on what the people in the music industry is looking for? I think people have to help themselves grow nobody can do that for them, so Marva i am totally opposed to that statement!!!!

    They must use their income to educate and further themselves if they take the music industry as a career!!!!!!

    • young musicians matter
      August 14, 2019

      Why can’t the DFC assist young musicians who may have talent and not have financing or knowledge of the music industry? She’s right. If DFC is able, why not.

    • Johnson
      August 15, 2019

      I tend to agree. I am all for supporting Local.. but the WCMF…is an international show….if we want the WCMF to remain profitable then the music must have international appeal.

      It makes no business sense to fill the line-up with local artists if the music isnt appealing to international crowds.

      I myself am not a musician so…I am not underestimatig their effort. Im just saying that the music product we produce has to be improved

  5. stupes
    August 14, 2019

    For starters you can start adding night flights into DA from the hubs. Its ridiculous that you cannot get a LIAT flight to DA from Barbados after 130pm. What happened to the night landing this PM and labour party used to boast about?

    • Adequacy of flights
      August 15, 2019

      Who are you going to land in the night? It is all about demand for the destination. If there is not enough passengers on a regular basis a flight will not be in place. So lighting up an airport does not automatically mean you will get flights at night.

    • Joe Linton
      August 15, 2019

      Stupes,
      You maybe have’t visited in a long time, there is night landing facility available but like all airlines their schedules must be economical, so if the demand for landing at nights is low why have it? once there is the need for LIAT to increase it flights into Dominica then they do so for the WCMF you will see LIAT and other airlines landing way into the early hours of the morning because the demand is extremely high at that time…

      Stop being so damn critical!!!!!

      • stupes
        August 15, 2019

        Linton I was there for reunion last yr October and it was the same nonsense, no liat flights from Barbados to DA after 130pm. Don’t you think during a peak travel time to DA such as reunion, they would want to add extra flights to accommodate visitors, and to get people home the same day?

    • Luca Spark
      August 15, 2019

      If tailwinds are above 20knots, flights cannot land from the sea. Given this is frequently the case, and that many flights had to be diverted, Liat decided not to schedule any more night flights to Dominica, given they alone had the headache and cost of getting passengers to their destination. Night landing has always been a folly, it’s just that no-one has ever admitted the truth of it. The airlines are being pragmatic, the government is not.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available