A total of $6.4 million is owed to suppliers and stakeholders for their services at the 2023 Tobago Jazz Experience.
CEO of the Tobago Festivals Commission, John Arnold, made the revelation on Wednesday, during a Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities (LASCSA).
Arnold said all local and international artistes who performed at the three-day event have already been paid.
He said, “We did get a release from that $12 million of $3.1 million (from the THA), but we are awaiting the $6.4 million which will take care of some of the outstanding payments that we have at this time,” Arnold said.
The 2023 Tobago Jazz Experience was held from April 20-23.
Arnold said the Division of Tourism, in collaboration with the Division of Finance, Trade and the Economy, was working to address the outstanding payments.
“We hope that will be in a short manner,” he added.
Acting administrator in the Division of Tourism Suresh Dookhoo also gave this assurance.
“The Division is working closely with the Division of Finance to source the funds for this $6.4 million. We are working extremely hard because we understand the small man needs his payment also. That’s always at the forefront of our decision-making,” he said.
“To be quite straightforward, all the artistes, local and foreign, have been paid. The only people we have now (unpaid) are marketing people and other suppliers in the space,” he stated.
THA Secretary for Tourism Tashia Burris recently revealed that the total cost for international performers was $3.86 million, while local performers were paid $406,289.