Minister of Culture, Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for Carnival told Freedom Fm Newsdesk in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that a meeting scheduled with the Party Central organizers Terrence “Ziko” Condor and Ian “Rookie” Phipps to run out some Carnival related issues, was cancelled.
Richards said following an appearance by Party Central on Freedom Fm on Monday night, the organizers were insisting they were going to operate their business and no one was going to stop them.
Minister Richards maintained that in spite of several meetings and attempts to reach a compromise, Party Central had refused to partner with the Carnival Committee in several key areas including the relocation and reorienting the party Central stage.
Richards insisted that the police wanted to move the booths to bank Street but that was also unacceptable to Party Central.
The Carnival Minister said even attempts to have the booth on Central Street across from Party Central were also turned down.
Richards said as a result of this the meeting scheduled for today with Party Central was off.
He said the matter about the issuance of a permit to Party Central was in the hands of the police.
Organizers of Party Central took to the airwaves of Freedom Fm Sweet Sister Sensia show on Monday night to explain to the public why there may be no Party Central for Sugar Mas 44, St. Kitts-Nevis Carnival 2015.
Terrance Condor and Ian Phipps, 2 Business entrepreneurs specializing in the business of entertainment explained that since sending a letter to the police to indicate their intention to continue with the street entertainment during Carnival known as Party Central, they had not received an official response, but additionally members of the Carnival Committee were indicating to bands/artistes and other cultural acts contacted by Party Central, that there would be no Party Central.
Terrance “Ziko” Condor said they had their rights to do business and it was only the police who could technically prevent Party Central from happening.
Condor said during this period of uncertainty, he reached out to the Minister of Carnival, the Honorable Shawn K Richards to intervene and a meeting was set up to show that Party Central would continue to partner with the Carnival Committee.
Ian “Rookie” Phipps said Minister Richards was always a keen supporter of Party Central but his representative Lester Hanley was giving mixed signals.
Phipps explained after meeting with Carnival and Police officials, the matter was in the police hands to make a decision.
He appealed to the public for their support and consideration during this impasse.