Tourism Minister Denise Charles has announced that the Government of Dominica has made an investment of over 7 million dollars for this year’s edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF).
She made the disclosure while addressing the launch party of the WCMF held at the Anchorage Hotel in Castle Comfort on Friday night.
“Now I can’t speak about the festival without acknowledging the strong commitment and support from the Government of Dominica,” she said. “The investment of over 7 million for this year’s festival is a testament to our belief in the power of culture and music.”
In fact, she said it is more than funding, “it’s a statement of importance we place on preserving, promoting, and celebrating our Creole heritage.”
According to Charles, Dominica’s WCMF isn’t just an event, it’s a legacy.
“We are honouring our roots and shooting for the stars with this 23rd edition under the theme: “Legacy,” she noted. “And what better occasion than the 45th celebrations of our independence to center our festivities and evoke a sense of patriotism.”
Charles said this year the organizers of the event are aiming for a higher percentage of visitors as compared to 2019.
“2022 was a year of triumph for Dominica with over 7400 visitors,” she indicated. “It was a record-breaking year for the festival, that thousands of hearts were touched, thousands of smiles we saw and thousands of hands we saw waving to the beats of Creole music.”
She continued, “We saw a 14 percent increase in attendance from 2019 and this year we are aiming for even higher.”
She said there will be added daily flights for the festival from American Airlines from October 24 to November 15, and on October 26, 27, and 28 “we have two flights daily.”
“So, there is no excuse not to be at this year’s festival,” Charles stated.
Charles pointed out that the organizers are not just bringing the world to Dominica, “we are taking Dominica to the world.”
“We are increasing our global Creole family, sharing our vibrant culture, and celebrating unity on a grand scale, and let us not forget our line-up,” she noted. “We have listened to you, conducted surveys, and put together a spectacular roster of performances.”
Charles added, “So some of the top 15 artistes you have voted for will be gracing our stage.”
Furthermore, Charles encourages members of the public to promote the WCMF.
“This festival is not just ours, it’s yours, so share your experiences, invite your loved ones, promote the festival,” she encouraged. “Let us make the Windsor Park the most happening place to be.”
Meanwhile, Festivals and Events Manager at DDA, Nathalie Walsh announced that season tickets for the WCMF went on sale last night from EC$300 on ticketlinkz.com.
“We have only 100 tickets going on special this evening,” she revealed.
Walsh said also that the first three people to purchase tickets will have a chance to win a free ticket compliments DFC.
She went on to state that in the next few weeks, the DFC will be releasing more information for the line-up for this year’s WCMF.
“Stay tuned for more. In the next few days we will give you more information as it relates to the VIP and the PVIP,” Walsh revealed.
Watch launch party:
https://youtu.be/BZ2ybAvARjk
Profit 30 million where has it gone? The country still the same way except for ppl pockets dry blaming Ukrainian and Russian war at Independence Day for prices going sky high open yourll eyes ppl
All you people funny as hell boy. Meanwhile our productive sectors continue to struggle. that 7 million could have been used to build a new industrial site to help local manufacturers produce a the proper standards which will allow them to build capacity to better serve the local and foreign markets. But no. Like Caesar, instead of giving them what they need, he rather pacify us with games and celebrations to make us forget about our daily problems, for a while. Wasted money. Nonsense line up. Nonsense alone that happening here.
If the government truly had a belief in the power of culture and music, the investment of over 7 million dollars would have been spent on ensuring that all facets of the creative arts are placed high on the education agenda. We then would see a noticeable return on the investment, both long and short term.
I voted for labor so Ms. Denise I want my tickets bright an early. When you wanted people to vote for you , you were all over the place , so now I want my payback.
Charles, get a grip! Stop talking utter rubbish in order to sing for your super. You guys make me sick. You think all of us stupid?
It seems to me that wig-head woman, does not even understand the concept, nor the meaning of the word investment!
And at this point one must asks if the government of Dominica, is in the business of promoting festivals?
As far as that goes there are people in that sort of business; (however, perhaps not in Dominica;) they spend their money on such promotions with the hope of mustering huge profits!
Hence; the action or process of investing money is supposed to be for profit or material result.
That $7,000,000.00 given is money flushed down the drain; but, who cares it’s all from the sale of Dominica passports!
Soon Roosevelt, you will yearn to sell one; the British, American, and Europeans have you in your dog house and chicken coupe where you belong!
Money invested must be into something that is worth buying because it may be profitable or useful in the future!
No profit will return on that seven million, it is another way of buying votes.
Again, every year is the same thing government giving money to WCMF this is our tax money not skerrit. CBI money finished just to fool us again,just for us to drink more rum again and forget the truth that the country is broke. Don’t worry it will catch up to us people still missing windows and doors after Maria you you find it’s right for you to do this skirrit. Fire burn you down star boy your cards are falling one by one. People eyes are starting to open the country dosen’t belong to you and your wife just remember that.
Why is it over 20 years the gov is still putting money into the festival and calling it an investment. What is the return on investment? Why are we not capturing the quantitative economic mpact of the creole music festival and making that available. If the event has not been profitable then it is just a big state sponsored second. At this point there should be reports of the economic impact of the festival over past 2 decades.
You against this, then you against CBI, I’m quite sure you also against the Int’l airport, if there’s such a thing, and geothermal maybe?
What Dominica needs right now is a comprehensive strategic plan to develop every sector of the economy. Tourism and agriculture are two sectors that have the greatest potential.
With some of the most fertile soil, an abundance of water, a relatively young !about force, all year round sunshine, ready markets throughout the sub-Caribbean, agriculture and agro- processing should take off like a space shuttle.
Dominica is blessed with many rare and unique natural physical features, flora and fauna, and spectacular attractions for eco-tourism.
The only thing that is holding the country back from being the economic wonder of the Caribbean is poor, brain dead, uninspiring leadership.
Urgent change is needed to make Dominica the bread basket of the Lesser Antilles again.
Millions of state dollars go into financing these events. The question is: Does the country make a profit? Where is the financial data for similarly organised events with money coming from the public purse?
The citizens are severely short changed from the lack of or access to so many vitally important resources whether in healthcare, education, national security, agriculture (feeder roads), etc. Where do the priorities of this government lie?
The Plantation owners used music, food and alcoholic beverages to subdue and fool our forebears. This uniquely unqualified administration is rivaling our grandparents’ oppressors.