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by pltm
(PLTM) - The people of the Territory are still in the dark regarding the spending of the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee over the last three years---2014, 2015 and 2016. As it stands, the committee has not produced any financial reports since 2013.
As a result of questions to the Minister with responsibility for Culture at a recent press conference, Hon. Myron Walwyn stated that the festival is in the process of readying the outstanding reports, adding that 2015’s report has already been completed and will be made public very shortly.
“The report for 2015 is finished. We [Culture Ministry] have already looked it over and it will be laid shortly, at least in the next sitting of the House [of Assembly].”
Accounting for the other years, the Minister noted that a first draft of a report for festival 2016 has being received and is being perused by officials within the Ministry.
As for the report of 2014, he explained that the committee apparently experienced some setbacks and the report was unable to be completed.
“Most of the people who work for the festival are volunteers. The treasurer was consumed very much with his other job, so we are now still working on 2014 report.”
The Minister highlighted that from the time he took over as Minister in 2012, financial reports were made public shortly after the festivities of 2012 and 2013.
He added that prior to 2012, there were no reports laid in the House for many years.
“The first festival I was over as Minister was in 2012. Prior to 2012, for many years up to about five years, there were no reports laid in the House for festival.”
The festival committee has been under much scrutiny in the past from the public, who complain that the committee continues to exceed their allotted budget, and that money is sometimes spent carelessly.
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