THA assemblyman: Where is the refund from D’Angelo

KINNESHA GEORGE-HARRY

Assemblyman for Palatuvier/ L’Anse Fourmi/ Speyside Farley Augustine is calling on the THA executive to account for the non-return of fees allegedly paid to international recording artist D’Angelo, seven months after he withdrew from performing at the 2017 Tobago Jazz Experience in April.

Augustine made the call at a media briefing at James Park, Scarborough on Tuesday.

The request comes on the heels of a question posed to Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation Nadine Stewart-Phillips at last Thursday’s sitting of the THA. Asked about the process for recovering the money, Stewart-Phillips said, “Several attempts were made through the legal department to recover monies paid and no favourable feedback was received. The legal department was instructed to initiate legal action against 11 Entertainment Company Limited.”

But for members of the Minority Council led by Watson Duke, that was not the answer they expected.

“We were promised that we would receive returns of some US$430,000 within three months,” Augustine said.

“We were told that we need not worry as this money would be returned to the coffers of the THA. It has been seven months since and not a red cent has been returned and there are several unanswered questions.”

Augustine said he would be filing a Freedom of Information Act request to the Division.

“In the first instance, we are asking why this company 11 Entertainment was used. What was the process for selecting 11 Entertainment Ltd? We are also asking for the THA to give a copy of the contract with 11 Entertainment, a copy of the contract with the artiste, a copy of the correspondence from the artiste to 11 Entertainment and or the THA indicating that he would no longer be able to attend the Tobago Jazz Experience. This is because we do not believe the story about his grandfather passing away and that was why he couldn’t come.“

Augustine said the excuse seems incredulous.

He also called for the removal of Tobago Jazz Experience organiser John Arnold from the event and for THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles to get the Fraud Squad to investigate the matter.

“Tobagonians must be mindful of the fact that this was US$430,000 spent in addition to US$150,000 for the recovery artiste Wyclef Jean, in addition to the US$15,000 travel buy-out for Wyclef Jean.”

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