Florida firm blamed for festival fiasco

The Soweto Gospel Choir at the Caribbean Muzik Festival in Rawson Square on Thursday. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

As of Thursday, November 5, 2015

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

ORGANISERS of the Caribbean Muzik Festival said yesterday they were “forced to postpone” the event after a Florida company hired to provide light and sound cancelled “very late in the day”.

In a joint statement with the Ministry of Tourism, CMF said organisers “deeply regret” the action that they were forced to take in postponing the Caribbean Muzik Festival’s final two nights, but “serious difficulties were experienced that made it unwise to attempt to continue at that time.”

“CMF had contracted with suppliers in Florida for sound, light and stage equipment and was blindsided by a late-in-the-day cancellation of the undertaking to provide this crucial equipment,” the statement said. “While, with quick effort on its part, CMF was able to locate and secure replacement equipment, there was insufficient time to get it to Nassau and have it installed while allowing time for sound checks and rehearsals with a large talent bill.

“The Ministry of Tourism welcomed back the Caribbean Muzik Festival to the Bahamas, based on a track record of delivering an event of the highest professional standard showcasing the regional recording musical artists, that could be subsequently delivered to a global television audience. A stellar list of the region’s most successful contemporary performers had been secured and insufficient preparation time was likely to jeopardise their performances as much as the event itself.

“This decision is appreciated by any professional artist and while there was some understandable amount of initial annoyance, there has been understanding by the artists. To date, we have received generous support from the artists, once the reason for their inconvenience became clear.”

An early date in December is under discussion and a specific date will be announced, once arrangements with suppliers, vendors and artists have been concluded and coordinated, the statement continued.

“Finally, the Ministry of Tourism and CMF wish to express our sincere appreciation to and admiration for the spirit in which the Bahamian people have taken these developments. While disappointment was fully expected, we have been moved to admiration by the calm and disciplined patience displayed while allowing the event to regain momentum,” the statement said.

“We assure them that they will receive an event of the standard they demand and of which they will be proud.”

The four-day festival was postponed last week after two nights of activity.

The Caribbean Muzik Festival is produced and promoted by Caribbean Republic Inc. The Ministry of Tourism is one of the major sponsors of the festival and has invested more than $600,000 into the event.

TruePeople 8 years, 5 months ago

Nope! Take responsibility, you tellin me no one on the island could provide lighting???!?!?! While simultaneously revealing to me that a BAHAMAIAN MUSIC FEST is reliant on FOREIGNERS for even taking place?!>!!>!?!?!?!?!

$600,000 + investment for a failure........ wow..... and it's 'somebody else fault' ....... wow ...........how am i not suprised

SHAMEFULL

ThisIsOurs 8 years, 5 months ago

It does seem really strange...foreigner /Bahamian isn't really my issue. My issue is that we have qualified people "here" who could have done the job...weird. How did Fred Mitchell ever approve the permit? What kind of company is this that could cancel out like that? Is this a Bahamian fronting again? No professional company would do this, how long have they been in business and what other concerts on this scale have they done?

TruePeople 8 years, 5 months ago

That was more the point i was trying to make.... why can't we have this whole show produced locally as it's supposed to showcase local talent.... i don't have anything against foreigner, but i dislike them blaming their own failure on people from Flodira

ThisIsOurs 8 years, 5 months ago

AND, if the explanation was this simple why couldn't they tell the minister from Friday? Did the company cancel for lack of payment? This explanation doesn't sound right.

TalRussell 8 years, 5 months ago

Comrades sounds weird that instead of Minister Obediah holding this organization to the fire to fully return the taxpayers 650 thousand dollars, here his ministry of tourism officials are jointly issuing statements.of facilitating such procrastination.
One day soon the people will say to this PLP Cabinet, you people exceeded going beyond when even one more lie has gone beyond enough of the lies.
The only "finally" taxpayers need to know from "The 12 Million Dollars Taxpayers Monies Carnival 2015's" Obediah is to see the names on this fantasy list of taxpayers who have taken all this in high stride spirits? Comrades have you ever before heard such foolishness. Oh yeah - from Obediah and his Carnival 2015 organizers.

GrassRoot 8 years, 5 months ago

so they know that on the day of the festival? great

ThisIsOurs 8 years, 5 months ago

Was the lighting company paid according to the terms agreed when they signed to do the show?

sealice 8 years, 5 months ago

LAA DEE DAA ANOTHER TEACHABLE MOMENT....THAT COST THE PUBLIC TREASURY $650K

concernedcitizen 8 years, 5 months ago

Notice there is no name of the lighting/sound company ,,,

Emac 8 years, 5 months ago

This explanation is utter bullshit!

TalRussell 8 years, 5 months ago

Comrades now you need be reminded of da rest da Obediah story. This is one of the leading cabinet ministers the media wants you to believe is leading in the polls to take over the PLP's political machinery from prime minister Christie.
Comrade parents, I wouldn't be telling this newest festival story to ya children as one their bedtime stories cuz it may cause them lasting nightmares. Once they become adults and start having flashbacks when they realize that as the new generation of taxpayers, it is they who are responsible for making re-repayments on this 650 thousand and the Carnival 2015's, 12 million dollars -plus da interest charges to be sent off to some foreigner sources abroad

newcitizen 8 years, 5 months ago

I thought they had concerts for the two previous nights before they shut it down, how could they not continue to use those lights and equipment?

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