Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, has called for the formation of a working group of Dominican
entertainers to chart the way forward for the industry, following a virtual discussion held on Saturday, November 27.
Over 50 entertainment practitioners, including musicians, DJs, promoters, producers and sound engineers, met with the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers to register their concerns over a slowdown in entertainment activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was organized by the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA).
Participants proposed the hosting of virtual events, “Vaccine Bubble” live events, easier access to funding and concessions, and the creation of long-term revenue streams through music royalties and licensing.
Mr. Skerrit told the entertainers the working group will seek practical solutions to the challenges they now face and make recommendations to Government to “create an environment and opportunities so that the music industry can be engaged, notwithstanding the pandemic.”
“It’s a matter for us to put all of those ideas down, assess and analyze them and to determine what are our immediate, medium and long-term priorities. I believe that musicians and artistes need to meet to discuss issues which confront the industry and to come up with a coherent and constructive proposal to myself and the Government for consideration,” Mr. Skerrit said.
He said Government will consider recommendations for duty-free concessions on music equipment and the creation of training opportunities for musicians and other practitioners to improve their craft. Paid internships for entertainers are also on the cards as part of programmes being developed by the Ministry of the Digital Economy.
The Prime Minister reiterated calls for the Dominican entertainers to operate professionally within an organized, representative body. He said Government was prepared to invest in the development of the music industry and welcomed the opportunity to work with local entertainers to advance their
interests.
The working group is expected to be in place within the week and a follow-up meeting to define its structure and mandate is tentatively set for later this week.
Why are Dominicans so lackadaisical? Why does the Prime Minister have to be the one to suggest to a group of “professionals” that they should organize. Everyone seems to be waiting for the PM to tell them what to do. Dominicans need to show a lot more initiative.
Looks like somebody wants to run Carnival next year
The Prime minister reiterated calls for the Dominican entertainers to operate professionally within an organized, representative body. I wonder what’s the hidden agenda behind that pronouncement. Who sets the parameters for operating professionally? I sense that there is a sinister move afoot to divide the entertainers. The paying public are the ones who decide what is acceptable as professional from the entertainers once laws are not being violated. I warn the entertainers to be weary of allowing this Prime minister with his track record of division in the body politic, to decide for them. Recall that Danny Lugay did legally secure funds to do work at Lindow park and that Skerritt intervened to stifle the effort. Careful that soon government will interject itself so deeply into the entertainment sector that they will be muzzled and divided. Government should value the sector and assist it’s growth not to interject itself in what it knows little about.
All Skerrit does do …. it’s like only Skerrit cabinet that can do anything in Dominica.
Discover Dominica sending entertainers to talk to cabinet?
Skerrit……de economy crashed!!!!!!!
Putting Vince in Grand Bay can’t help our situation!!!!!!
Dem entertainers think that Skerrit is their fix??????
They need to ask….. what is choking de system?????? (DDA)
We have a system that doesn’t work so Skerrit have to create a new one on top of de one that sleeping sleeping away!!!!
People don’t even realize that de system that not working is controlled by de same Skerrit.
Dominicans need to learn how things work. This guy Skerrit only responds to the possible threat of unified action. Since 2020 entertainers complaining, he doh worry with them. Last week them DJs get together and hold a meeting… a week doh even pass, he done sit down with them already.
Remember when them bus drivers was complaining? He didnt worry with them until they come together and cause disruption. Remember the college students, truck drivers, everybody that get together and take action – same thing.
Stop waste time complaing, just get together with the practitioners in your sector and make him see your potential for unified action. Within seconds, he will give in as he always does!
BTW – who is ‘COVID Vaccination unit’ and why that person involved in a meeting like that? Is that one of Skerrit overlords listening in to make he he stick to the narrative they paying him for?
Dominicans need to learn how things work. This guy Skerrit only responds to the possible threat of unified action. Since 2020 entertainers complaining, he doh worry with them. Last week them DJs get together and hold a meeting… a week doh even pass, he done sit down with them already.
Remember when them bus drivers was complaining? He didnt worry with them until they come together and cause disruption. Remember the college students, truck drivers, everybody that get together and take action – same thing.
Stop waste time complaing, just get together with the practitioners in your sector and make him see your potential for unified action. Within seconds, he will give in as he always does!
While the government is considering recommendations for duty-free concessions on music equipment, they should also consider similar concessions for the visual arts.
I might add that whilst the visual arts are largely ignored by the government, there is a forthcoming major exhibition of Caribbean British Art in the UK.
“Life Between Islands” promises to be a definitive survey of Caribbean British Art since the 1950s. Tate Britain, London, from 1 December to 3 April.
You get more bang for all the money flowing around when you implement MUSIC programs IN YOUR SCHOOLS. No matter how many times you give a man a fish, you feed him for a lifetime when you teach him to fish, and, have notable guest musicians stop by from time to time. And he will make beautiful music. Ask Kassav.
I totally agree.
Sadly, all creative art forms are virtually a nonentity in our education system: that holds true from Primary School to State College.
Creativity is an untapped potential that 99% of children are born with. Beyond its intrinsic value in the arts, it can serve to enhance academic disciplines and life in general. If creativity is frustrated it all too often results in a negative destructive impact. And this is the root cause of many of our social problems.
Almost eighty years ago Herbert Read wrote the definitive book on the subject: “Education Through Art”. Unfortunately his reasoning for creativity in schools still falls on deaf ears.