As the debate continues to heat up with the public spat involving People’s Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader and Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Deputy Chief Secretary Watson Duke and THA Chief Secretary and PDP Deputy Speaker Farley Augustine comes the Roxborough Folk Performers Company. that he did not receive money from THA to help him during a cultural tour in New York.
The Roxborough Folk Performers, in a statement yesterday, said. “We wish to advise that, to date, neither the cultural group Roxborough Folk Performers, nor any individual, has received any money or check from the Tobago House of Assembly, to contribute to our current exhibition of Tobago culture in New Town York. “
This comes after Chief Secretary Augustine announced last Thursday, at the THA weekly media briefing, that more than $400,000 in partial sponsorship was awarded to the group for its trip.
Augustini also said that members of the diaspora in the United States were contacted to help and they would be reimbursed by THA at a later date.
He was responding to a Facebook post by Duke last Wednesday, in which the PDP leader accused the THA of failing to provide funds for the 27 “starving” members of the Roxborough band who performed at various events this week past.
Roxborough Folk Performers added in yesterday’s statement: “It is necessary that all cultural actors work together to find solutions in the future to support cultural investment at the right time, to avoid situations like this.
“The Roxborough Folk Performers Cultural Group is focused on promoting Tobago’s culture and sharing elements of our culture throughout the diaspora to further Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism drive and make Tobago the greatest small island on the planet .”
The Roxborough Folk Performers Cultural Group was formed in July 2008 and has been part of many national festivals such as the Best Village Competition, the Tobago Heritage Festival, the National Music Festival, Carifesta and other cultural events.
Over the years, it has been a tradition for the group to showcase Tobago’s culture nationally and internationally, he said.
Augustine said he would issue a statement last weekend outlining the review of Duke’s role and responsibilities, but as of press time last night the statement had not yet been emailed.
