Lime Executive urges Queen Show organizers to change their approach to sponsorship

Organisers of the carnival queen show pageant have been urged to rethink their strategy targeting sponsorship for that national show’s participants.

Jeffrey Baptiste

While guaranteeing telecoms company LIME’s commitment to the support of the Dominica Festival’s Committee’s (DFC) queen show pageant, Company Manager Jeffrey Baptiste offered some sound advice to the organizers of the event.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the DFC made a “passionate plea” to the private sector asking for support for contestants who have not yet secured sponsorship.

But Baptiste has criticized this gesture – he says the queen show should be of a standard that should attract private sector funding, instead of the organizers having to put out the begging bowl.

The LIME manager has called on the DFC to reassess its methods of putting together the show.

Baptiste said that LIME not only wants to simply present cheques but to provide whatever help is needed for the development of the product, through the sharing of ideas and technical support.

“We need to now consider Dominica as a viable option … we need to be strategic, we need to think a bit more deeply in terms of how we position our carnival and make that passionate plea so that we can actually get other persons to come,” he stated.

“ We want to stand by the DFC to ensure that we get to that place. We cannot continue in my view to market the queen show and to organize the queen show in the same way we been organizing it for the last five years and expect there to be a different outcome,” he said.

Baptist further suggested that, “We need to consider what can we do differently to ensure that we can get sponsors lined up wanting to associate their brand to carnival queen contestants. We shouldn’t be in my view, making a plea at the last minute for sponsors to want to come onboard”.

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45 Comments

  1. Cari
    January 23, 2012

    Why do all statements in Dca have to be public? Whatever has happened to the phrase ‘tete-a-tete’, or private discussion? Don’t people have private meetings anymore?

    Are we so used to mobile phones, texts, BBM’s and FB as intermediaries to communication that we can’t look each other in the eye and speak how we feel honestly?

    Everything does not have to be a controversy. Dca is too small for that. Shame!

    Our girls have been performing so well overseas yet we are here trivializing and trampling the successes that our carnival queen show has produced over the years. Shame, Shame, Shame.

  2. Anonymous
    January 22, 2012

    Well said mr Baptiste

  3. bull
    January 21, 2012

    you never beg, sing, for a duty free i do anything

  4. P. D.
    January 21, 2012

    …..one more thing….In speech, walk, composure…..confidence etc, the girls ned to be wel prepared.. I stil fel that 99% of the girls are not naturaly walking on stage with any confidence…..
    There speech, talk, discussion is also poor, ill prepared and this has to do with some level of intelectual that you gain before being selected and not when nominated on te eve to contest. Most of them know nothing about Dominincas socio political issues , let alone talk on CARICOM, OECS, and tourism sector, marketing etc…….they need to be told and be confient to talk naturally and evenwhen not knowledeable of a subject how nbest to say so in all honestly…that will go down wel too…te cnfidence to say something positive and fel confident. hat confidece or lacjk off does not resonet to the audience and the public…… Lert us begin to startegise.

  5. P. D.
    January 21, 2012

    I can associate with what the LIME manager sdyas…..it is npt per s e the oranisers fault but a bigger pictuire , that biger picture of government, the minister ( or lack of …) of Tourism…
    Read carefully the what the LIME managewr is saying…..we need a niche, a product to see that will make people want ot cme to see something different….to sell.
    Do yo know once, it was either the OECS or Queen shopw that was carried live in Canada.. We have to prepare and discipline ourselves for that , because 8am had to be 8am to start etc or elkse it would not havebencarried..we are to mediocre in Dominica, from top to bottom.. Yop dunno what to do..middle tryoing hard and cinfused and bottom, well in the bottom..

  6. Anonymous
    January 20, 2012

    DFC should be dissolved; the unprofessionalism of that organization cannot be described in writing here. This is the year 2012 and that organization is trying to cut cost in everything they are involved and expect professional results.

    Government need to start from fresh with that organization…. Their advisers, planner’s event managers all need to go.

  7. Sharon
    January 20, 2012

    I think we keep blaming the committee and DFC. We have to think before we talk and investigate, because sometime there is a sponsors and the only thing that is given to DFC is the administrative cost. HE keeps all his money and do his business on his own. Then there are chaperones, who bill the contestant for services fro over 3000.00 and is after the fact that DFC gets to know. So we have to weigh before we speak. The girls are never mistreated it only starts when they do not perform and they disgruntled, then they make up their story. The queen contestants all come all with a learning experience win or loose. We have example of many. They are either an air hostess or they become top models. SO STOP THIS BLAMING GAMES.

    • pusina
      January 20, 2012

      Sharon trust me I had first hand experience as part of a tean for a past contestant and it was very glaring the treatment she received hence the unfairness in the final results of the show. She wasn’t given fair treatment and ms.shillingford made very nasty comments about that contestant even leading up to appearances in the different runs of the show. So there are accounts of mistreatment by the committee…

  8. Are you Dominica
    January 20, 2012

    All you just theire running all you mouth without knowledge. Some of the comments are people with grips and jealousy and bad motives. There is a DFC Board/CDC/DFC and then QSC, and other committees. The QSC does not deal with finances, they produce the show, train the young ladies etc. LIME has a representative on the CDC and QSC. If the GM has a problem he should have questioned the representation on the QSC or said DFC instead of DFC. He has a problem, then stop financing carnival and let Digicel finance carnival. He reproaching the people man.

    We people like to forget. Investigate the 2006 Queen Show and tell me then what happen?All you cllling to bring back people who lasted for a year becasue of……….

    Let us work together – give ideas and move on we just there talking, talking and discrediting people for your own gains

    I not hearing no confusion like 2006 for the last few years – so the QSC is doing well.

    The GM should retract this. It is bad. He has representation on the Committees.

    • HUGE
      January 20, 2012

      what happened in 2006?

  9. LOL
    January 20, 2012

    Private Sector does not have any money…..Check them Chinese Sores for sponsorship hehehehehe

  10. Anon Again
    January 20, 2012

    I think the DFC should give up the Queen show. Let a local entrepreneur take it over.

  11. Changesneeded
    January 19, 2012

    Excellent advise… We need to do that not just for Queen show but for many of our other events…

  12. CHARMER
    January 19, 2012

    I concur. The approach that the P.R.O took demanding that the private sector sponsor the queens was not very smart. You can’t catch flies with a swap.

    • CHARMER
      January 19, 2012

      I meant P.R.O. of Calypso Ass.

  13. ron rainbow
    January 19, 2012

    well said.

  14. Mystic
    January 19, 2012

    Well said Mr Baptiste!!

  15. concerned
    January 19, 2012

    thank you Sir. I agree 100%

  16. 4u2c
    January 19, 2012

    Let the chinese Sponsor is them that have business and getting TAX free items…The LOCAL business man is no longer in business…ask SKERRO for MONEY!@!!!

  17. concern citizen
    January 19, 2012

    we need people with great ideas in the correct position. Dominica has the potential for this and its just being stored because everyone want money..i do know money is vital however, let us start thinking of our product and country

  18. p
    January 19, 2012

    the organisers need to be changed if they can’t change their strategy then they need to get out. Every year it seem to be getting worst.The year sharon sammy and nathalie did the show is was well organised….

    • Chaperone
      January 20, 2012

      Oh god you come back with that again…please visit the black book when these people were “organizers”. Maybe you will get why certain private sector business not funding from since then!!!

    • Anna
      January 20, 2012

      2006 was that year, but lasted one year!Why did they. Investigate before making comments. The Queen Show people are not the problem. Its the people in charge who hold the purse, there the Committee has to work with the funds available and I find they are doing very well. Remember also the DFC/CDC are the ones in chrge, they have to find the funding.

  19. Eyes Open
    January 19, 2012

    What DFC needs to do is better planning, more appreciation and respect for the sponsors whom DFC has to realize does sponsoring by choice and not obligation! Then treatment of the contestants like providing proper transportation for the young ladies to reach home safely after practice, refunding monies that were promised to people and most importantly better treatment of the Queen of Dominica! For God sakes it is only one lady and not a million. I have ideas which I shared with DFC, Lime and who I thought was head of DDA! So you messed up in the past ………..right the future and start now! I will be forced to let go more info if nothing is done soon.

  20. lo
    January 19, 2012

    AMEN!!! WE NEED A DIFFERENT APPROACH!!
    EVERY YEAR IS THE SAME OLD SAME OLD!!

  21. jemz
    January 19, 2012

    :) DFC are you taking heed?
    This is a man who has experience in many different fields…take note. That same approach ain’t getting you all anywhere.
    The same people at the helm time year in year out, ask,listen, seek new strategies ideas etc.
    Mr. Baptiste, Nathalie Marshall Joseph, Marcia Jno. Baptiste are just a few of the many individuals that should be apart of the DFC successful team.

    • Amen
      January 20, 2012

      Do you EIA before making recommendations.Hemm……….. Please note LIME has a representative on the Committee,

    • Open Eyes 2
      January 20, 2012

      Open Eyes the young ladies are being transported to their homes after practice. Have you ever asked why some persons never got refunded, Double jeapordy.

      • Eyes Open
        January 21, 2012

        I guess u are one of the contestants in your dreams. You cannot even be original and come up with your own name. I speak from experience puss.

  22. Michael
    January 19, 2012

    I totally support your comment Mr. Baptise. The standard of the show is on the decline. We are waiting for October to look for and launch delegates. Delegates are going on stage not prepared for the night even after the Pre Show in December. Question: Why do we have an Events Director at the Dominica Festival Commission? Is her major role solely that of the World Creole Music Festival. She should be able to multi task. Her two major festival being Carnival and World Creole Music. She should be on the road looking for sponsorship throughout the year.

  23. pusina
    January 19, 2012

    Well said.. But those experts in DA on that queenshow committee think they know more than people out there like myself with the worldly knowledge.. :-D

    • Amy Grant
      January 20, 2012

      Allu realise that the man was referring to DFC!!! not the queen show committee…The queen show committee has only the span of operation BASED ON THE FUNDING WHICH DFC GIVES THEM….if dfc gives a budget that is mediocre, cut or remain stagnant every year then then the queen show committee can only operate within that sphere..

    • Haha
      January 20, 2012

      You so expert, we know you come on board and stop the rum shop talk

    • ALAS
      January 20, 2012

      PUSINA THE qUEEN SHOW COMMITTEE TAKES DIRECTIVES FROM THE DDA/DFC, PLEASE TAKE NOTE BEFORE TALKING

      • pusina
        January 20, 2012

        Puss regardless of who they take directions from its a papashow…commes and waste of funds..and those commess trainers and people that think they know stuff but can’t train the girls on basic speaking skills then its a shame. U all know who u all want to be in the queenshow marry gang cause u all always contacting me for money but one year I off to help and u all never followed through puss..

  24. Carinival Lover
    January 19, 2012

    Well said Mr. Baptist…however in addition i believe the whole Queen Show Committee should be fired and new people should be placed in the position with new innovated ideas to attrack the young ladies and not beg for young ladies. The whole policies as to the queen show committe managing the young ladies sponsor money is the major issue which has them begging for sponsorship now. At present the committe is a family orient thing.

    • Eve
      January 20, 2012

      The family that prays together stays together. It bothering you man. Come on board and join the family too. If you have no sins throw the first stone. Thats all you attack! attack! using different names.

  25. January 19, 2012

    Well said sir,it is time we step up to the plate.Time to stop the talk and walk the walk. talk about innovation.

  26. Anonymous
    January 19, 2012

    For real ! Well said, obviously they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing if they have to beg for sponsors every year.

  27. bone
    January 19, 2012

    Well said! I hope they take the advice and work for a better outcome!

  28. tommy
    January 19, 2012

    Have you ever tried to get a VIP (seating area ticket)? It is impossible. They have all those tickets for their people. Why don’t they just stop this foolishness & only offer these same tickets to big time sponsors.

  29. Anna
    January 19, 2012

    What do you mean? Are you not part of the planning. Why was that suggetion not made early.

  30. Hmmm
    January 19, 2012

    So long I want to be on the committee to help these ladies prepare their speeches.

  31. hmmm
    January 19, 2012

    i think this is so tru, they need different peeps on the committee, young vibrant people. u got to spend money to make money. our carnival shld be advertised more. every year is the same old thing.

  32. Eagle Eye
    January 19, 2012

    I am happy the gentleman pointed out something the wider public has been saying for a long time. Hopefully they will have a more professional approach to the event.

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