Show and fete promoters are insulted by Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s statements on Wednesday that they maximise profits at the expense of the citizens.
Manning made the comment during a walkabout in San Fernando and advised promoters that instead of griping over a lack of venues and the ban on cultural events at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and Jean Pierre Complex, they should seek to build their own facilities.
Yesterday, promoter Randy Glasgow said he was happy the prime minister has advised promoters to construct their own venues.
’I like what the prime minister is saying, and I love how he is sounding now. Three years ago, William Munro and I went to him asking him to lease us some land so we can build a facility because even then, there was no where in the west for us to hold events. Manning told us there is no need to lease any land because there were projects underway to provide us with venues, and we need not bother our heads,’ Glasgow said.
The promoter suggested the Government set up a system like the one they did for farmers where it leases lands to promoters who can then develop it for entertainment purposes. Glasgow also said Manning and Sport Minister Hunt had led the public to believe the promoters had got and are asking for use of the stadium, complex and other venues free of charge.
’We don’t get the complex for less than $60,000 and the stadium for under $300,000. We have not asked for these venues for free. Manning should send teams out to places such as Wembley, Madison Square Garden and other such venues to see what they do and how these facilities are put to use for entertainment events,’ he said.
Frank Martineau, of Spektakula Promotions, simply said the matter had got out of hand, and the time had come for the promoters and Manning to meet and thrash out the issue, hopefully, in the coming days.
Roy Maharaj, of TriStar Promotions, said he, too, had raised the issue of a lack of venues before and was criticised. He said he took Manning’s statement that promoters were making profits at the people’s expense as an insult.
’I am employing over 500 people a night when I have a show, paying them from $200 to $200,000. Who am I taking money from? I provide people with good entertainment for the money they pay. What about the money I put out? Sometimes you make, sometimes you don’t.
’Does the prime minister look at these things? I never received any help from any Government. When I have my events, I face the bank,’ Maharaj said.
Maharaj said that he, too, once approached the prime minister for land on which he wanted to build a facility for shows and was turned down. He also reminded Manning of all the people who depend on such events to earn a living, such as food vendors, sound engineers, musicians and others.
Creator of the now-defunct Brass Festival Cliff Harris said there was no need for confrontation between the Government and promoters. He said there are ways to deal with the problems of a lack of venues if common sense were to be employed.
Why is the PM not voicing his dissident against crime? Although I agree with his stand against promotors, there is the pressing issue of crime which is affecting ALL citizens regardless of race, religion, age, sex and class.
Detractors, please do not be naive, crime needs to be absolved especially since Christmas time is a peak season for criminal activities and is only a month away.
God Bless.
Next fete we must hold off on the invitations to the PM, the president and politicians tell then to hold their own fete. And you know how they like to fete more than work when we are in a recession.
They're insulted? What have they done for us lately? They got a lot of nerve. They are a bunch of money hungry, money grabbing parasites. Nobody owes them a damn thing. When last did they establish a scholarship for needy youth? When last did they team up with Habitat for Humanity and donated funds to help build a house for a needy family? When last they held a free concert for all their loyal customers? No, it's all about them. Come to my fete, pay more money for tickets, no refunds, no responsibility. Let them go to hell. INSULTED? We are insulted by their damn greed and low morals.
There is private land selling all over Trinidad. Why do they have to go to the government for land. If I want to build a business or a house, I have to provide my own damn funds to do so. I have to go to the bank or credit union and apply for a loan. I don't go to the government and say "help me to build a house or business because it's for the good of the community". No, it's for my own damn advancement, and I expect to pay my fair share for this. Right? So how dare these selfish, mercenary, bloodsuckers come forward and expect the taxpayers to pay for land for them to build a venue. As the Prime Minister rightly said, BUILD IT YOURSELVES!!! You know what, DO NOT give any more fetes in Trinidad or Tobago from now on, and you will see who suffers. You, the promoters are the only ones who will suffer. Your cash flow will be decreased and the people of this nation will keep their money in their pockets and look at artistes on TV, that's all. WE WON'T MISS YOU. WE DON'T NEED YOU. Go home and roll around in your ill-begotten profits.
Don't they understand? Money is not the issue here. Whether they are willing to pay $50,00 or $300,00, that's not the point. The destruction of our sports venues is what's at stake here. Our kids need to have a place to compete and excel in sports. No all kids want to jump up and wine, okay? Some kids really have potential and goals and ambition. So leave our facilities alone, and get your own. "Blessed is the child that has his own" Why can't these promoters get together with each other and say. "Okay, let us each put down $3 million dollars, buy some land and build a great, beautiful structure for our fans to come and enjoy themselves. We do have the money. We make enough of it. We don't give anything away. Yes, we can afford to build our own place. When we are not using it, we will rent it out to others who don't have our kind of money so that they can give a fete or concert, or play and they can make money just like we do all the time. Oh, and while we are at it, let's give something back to our country and those less privileged than we are. Let's establish some foundations which would help needy families or homeless families, or families who got burnt out in a fire and have no place to live. Yes, Let us do this for our country. Because we cannot take all this money with us when we go down 6 feet." When I hear them say this, then I will feel sympathy for these promoters. Yes, this is what I, a member of the feting community, would like to hear from these promoters. Otherwise, shut to hell up, you too bloody shameless. BUILD YOUR OWN PLACE.
500 persons employed by tristar promotions per show. these lil fibs mr.maharaj would not get you any support. maybe just a slight exaggeration. anyway, its a good idea to invest in a venue solely for these money making events . you guys should should not get permission to mash up the stadium regardless of the rent derived from your promotions. thank you. david R .NY
What, they are insulted? Why, because somebody said NO to them? What an amazing amount of gall these promoters have. The insult is their insensitivity to the youth of this country who want to be sportsmen and sportswomen. That is the insult. How dare they think that it's okay to destroy sporting facilities for their own gain. How dare they think that all the people of Trinidad and Tobago want is to go to a fete. If the government must give them land and money to build a Dancehall Emporium, then the government has to give the Christian community land to build a Center where gospel concerts can be held too. I want to see a Christian Center built in Trinidad where people who are of that persuasion can go and praise the Lord. But I'm not that boldface enough to expect the government to give it to me on a silver platter. So we rent land, and build tents and have our meetings and praise the Lord and don't expect any handouts from the government. We raise funds with curry-q's and bake sales and fashion shows, but we don't expect the government to come and rescue us. Oh, and we give to charity. We help the homeless, we clothe families, we have food drives and deliver food on a weekly basis to those who don't have. We give, we don't take.
I agree with Mr Manning. Why should the government subsidise these events? They say "its a cultural thing", to me it seems that daily and incessantly increasing crime is fast becoming a "cultural thing."
Producing food and producing entertainment are two different things. Food production benefits the whole country, while entertainment only benefits the patrons. Get real!!!!
Go buy the land with the profit you make!!!!
If you require land why are you approaching the Gov't for leasing arrangements (probably asking for subsidized arrangements as well) GO AND PURCHASE YOUR OWN LAND! AND SET UP YOUR OWN FACILITY
Your in the right profession ya'll are SELF PROMOTERS
However, promoters, that just goes to show, trusting politicians is not the smartest move you can make. Especially, Manning's PNM. You live and learn.
Sandra
So what it boils down to is about big and better fetes in TnT!! Have culture shows at the academy for the arts. Pan at de Savannah etc. .. its good enough. Because mega fetes cause mega problems .. drunkness, grinding, lewdness, pissing, drugs, cussing, assaulting, raping, stabbing/killing. A bigger show for the young generation to follow ..duh! Really.
If fete promoters are paying the government to use the stadium and the complex and are following the guidelines for their use, it is the government's responsibility to fix the stadium after it has been abused. But then we don't have the technology or the knowledge, do we. Manning is talking to the fete promoters like a teacher to a student, like a parent to a child, punishing them for not doing as he says. The only people being punished here is the taxpayers because how else does the stadium pay for itself. Certainly not from sports. JT
as i read through all these comments ah start to think .... the promoters bring the fete ,they pay for the place and the performers .the place come with bathrooms accomodations ...the same tax paying citizens pay their hard working money to come and enjoy theyself ,have a could time ,and is "same" who break up the place and piss all over the place and leave the place stink ...is them does do that ,,ah never see no promoters or performers pissing in the parking lot ??? yes their might be a line to the bathroom to piss ..what ya go hear them say "ah cary hold it nah ? ah got to go'... what do they do ?? piss any dam place ..this is one time they doh care who see them ..... the bottom line is not the promoters and them does break up the place .and no matter where ya keep a party in t&t and what accomodations provided their will always be some degree of distruction and nastiness ..... doh get vex is the truth ... AND what does huRt meh is them same people does come out hear in america (ny /brooklyn) and go all them big parties,well dress ,have a dam good time , and leave the people place "CLEAN " ....nothing mash up !!!so you tell me .....
Mr. Maharaj, that's what entreprenurial spirit is you make on some , you lose on some, where does the govt come into that equation......do you really pay the correct taxes per event? Duh....
The only thing wrong with what Manning did in this matter,was the disrespectful and rude way he responded.You are embrassed "by" the P.M?I am embrassed "with" having him as my country's Prime Minister.But don't worry gentlemen,he is our"father" now,but we are working to find a "step-father",soon,for our "Mother-Country". There isn't any hope for him,he is too far gone(too close to 'St.Anns' literally).Aubert Modeste
Mr Modeste you always say it as it is. Be very careful sir because Patrick Manning do'nt like to hear the truth & just maybe you may find yourself out in the cold and cannot return to your land of birth not even for a Funeral of someone dear to you.
Seriously I don't think the promoter's feelings are that important. Maximizing profits to what any good business should do so big deal if the PM called you out....quit whining....serious issues please
The government need to first research the performers who will be performing especially since there seems to be some concern about the influence of gangsta rap and reggae on the nation's youth. Yes they should rent the stadium and make promoters pay a large sum fro rental and a huge security deposit. Draw up a contract so these promoters bring their own maintenance crew. Let them know if they don't clean up after the event that deposit will be non-refundable. The government should also get a percentage of total revenues for all tickets purchased and all videos/Dvds made from any recordings of events in these facilities.
Site designed and managed by CCN New Ventures. Managing Editor: Omatie Lyder, Head of
TV News; Dominic Kalipersad, Copyright 2009 All rights reserved. Trinidad
Express 35 Independence Sq, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Express newspaper and
TV6 are subsidiaries of One Caribbean Media (www.onecaribbeanmedia.net)
Powered by www.cpsgsoftware.com
