The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Local government officials on Exuma are uncertain whether Bahamian vendors to the now-infamous Fyre Festival have been paid what is due to them, after event organisers warned their own staff they will not be paid.

Fyre Media chief executive, Billy McFarland, informed employees two weeks ago that they would no longer be paid for their work, raising immediate and significant doubts as to whether Bahamians will receive due compensation.

Neil Campbell, island administrator for Exuma, told Tribune Business: “No one really came to the administrator’s office and reported it, so I don’t know if they have gotten paid or not, but no one has lodged anything through my office.”

Reports emerged last week that Mr McFarland, a 25-year-old technology entrepreneur who founded Fyre Festival in partnership with hip hop artist, Ja Rule, had spent millions on models, private jets and yachts to promote the event, leading to a funding crisis.

Festival-goers, some of whom had paid $12,000 per head, found none of the promised infrastructure, accommodations and attractions were in place when they arrived on Exuma late last month, while many of the advertised bands had pulled out.

The Ministry of Tourism emphasised that it was not a sponsor of the event, and therefore had no financial involvement, but its previous press releases described it as a “partner” of Fyre Festival, and the liaision with all relevent government and local government entities to ensure the organisers obtained the necessary permits.

The Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, Joy Jibrilu, told this newspaper earlier this month that officials were in the process of determining which Bahamian vendors were still owed money by event organisers, noting that Fyre Festival’s promoters had assured that all outstanding debts will be paid.

Mr McFarland’s comments to his own employees raise significant doubts about that, but attempts to obtain further comment from the Ministry of Tourism were unsuccessful.

Mia Weech-Lange, theMinistry’s spokesperson, implied that is reluctance to speak was due to the blitz of class-action lawsuits filed in the US against Fyre Festival organisers by angry attendees demanding compensation and their money back.

“We have no further comment at this time. This is now a legal matter in the United States as I am sure that you are aware,” she said.

Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised over the fate of equipment left behind on Exuma the wake of the Fyre Festival ordeal, with suggestions that some of it had been looted.

Mr Campbell said: “I know that they left some items behind. I saw where persons said that they got mattresses and bedding stuff; that’s what I heard via social media.”

Tribune Business previously reported that Fyre Festival organisers approached Bahamas-based suppliers and providers of necessary infrastructure for the concert site some six-eight weeks ago prior to the festival date, but never made the necessary payments or deposits.

Resignations of key support personnel, such as Fyre Festival’s caterers, were also widely known several weeks out. What is currently not known is the potential financial loss suffered by Bahamian workers and service providers, such as the 10 jitney drivers induced to take their vehicles from Nassau to Exuma, in the belief they would be providing transportation services for Fyre Festival.