A new entertainment committee set up with the agreement of Minister of Creative Economy Culture and Sports John King isn’t sitting well with everyone.
Entertainment promoters were summoned to an unscheduled meeting with King on Wednesday evening. The Whatsapp message was sent out at 3 p.m. for the meeting to be held at 5:30 p.m.
It read: “Sorry for the late notice, however I’m writing you on behalf of the Minister of Creative Industries, Culture and Sports to invite all the promoters to a meeting at the Ministry of Culture Skyy Mall today Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 5:30pm to discuss how the government can make it better for the promoters within the industry. Thank you.”
A source said: “What was a bit offsetting was the medium used to send the message and the time frame. Many people have daily duties and cannot drop everything to rush to an impromptu meeting that could have been held with proper notice.”
The source said the meeting lasted for four hours and at the end a new committee, was formed to oversee issues promoters had with staging events.
Another attendee said some people felt uncomfortable with the steering committee selected as the Barbados Cultural Industries Development Authority was already doing the same thing and everyone was already onboard with that entity.
“When the committee members were selected some of the names caused concern. They had Ruel Ward, who is closely tied to Santia Bradshaw, of Pyramid Entertainment, Rudy Maloney, who has one of the biggest National Cultural Foundation contracts as he stages Phenomenal Fridays that holds the Sweet Soca and Party Monarch competitions and Jeremy Nicholls, of Xhosa Grand Kadooment Band,” the source said.
Rounding out the committee is Bryan Worrell, of Colorz Band, and Eleanor Rice, of Cave Shepherd All Stars Calypso Tent.
A release issued on Thursday said: “The Barbados entertainment landscape now has a new social partner. It is The Entertainment Association of Barbados. A cross section of promoters across different strata met this afternoon [Wednesday] with the new Minister of Creative Economy Culture and Sports, The Honourable John King and agreed to establish a representative group aimed at advocacy, lobbying and representation of a more enabling environment for all promoters in the creative economy.
“The interim committee will provide a report on short and medium-term challenges which impact on their success as entrepreneurs in this space to King prior to the culmination of the Crop Over festival and continue to work closely with the Ministry of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports post the festival to enhance the competitiveness of Barbados as a destination rich in diverse quality entertainment value and experiences.”
The group is expected to be facilitated under the Barbados Coalition Services Industries start-up and incubation programme. (NS/PR)
