Some fete promoters say they do not have a problem with building their own facility but are appealing to Government to lease the land to them. "Treat us like farmers and lease us some land," said Randy Glasgow, promoter of the Ladies Night Out show and the Alternative Comedy Festival. Glasgow said this during a telephone interview yesterday. His comment came in light of the recent decision by Government to ban all fetes at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and Jean Pierre Complex. Glasgow said it was unfair to promoters who did not throw fetes but catered for a different and mature crowd.
He said: "My audience do not 'mash up' any facility. We take care of it. "However, if this was the decision, then lease us the land and we (promoters) would build it ourselves." Meanwhile, Glasgow said the promoters hoped they could have dialogue with Prime Minister Patrick Manning and work things out by putting measures in place to further protect the facilities. He said: "We pay about $400,000 for the use of the National Stadium and $60,000 to $70,000 for the Jean Pierre Complex, so we can work something out. Speaking from an artist perspective, Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez said: "It will definitely affect the artistes as we will not have any proper facilities where we can perform."
She said while she understood both sides of the argument and it was a tricky situation, she hoped promoters could meet with the Prime Minister and work things out. Lyons-Alvarez said she also agreed with the idea of the Government locating a piece of land to construct a facility specifically design to host Carnival fetes and other Carnival events. However, she said if the ban included the Arima Velodrome, then they would have no choice but to find another suitable venue or, if not, cancel the "children show" they host every year.
