SXMElections.com

MARIGOT--The Dominica Foundation of St. Maarten/St. Martin will present the Bouyon for Dominica Benefit Concert this coming Saturday, October 3, to raise funds for the stricken nature island in its post-Erika aftermath.

The much anticipated concert with popular artistes from Dominica and St. Maarten/St. Martin will be held at Festival Village, Philipsburg, from 4:00pm to 3:00am.

The press conference on Monday not only announced the concert but also showed a preview of a documentary film made by MSR Cable TV cameraman Kitian Francis who went to Dominica with St. Martin Dominica Relief Committee members, former President of the Collectivité Alain Richardson and District Six representative, George Richardson, on September 7, to assess the situation down there.

Francis spent three days recording the scenes of devastation and talking to affected residents. The film is due to be aired on MSR Cable TV on October 12.

Thanks to the contribution of several businesses and individuals 40 pallets of Karuline water (21,000 bottles) were delivered to the capital Roseau on September 6.

Some of the artistes booked to perform for Saturday’s concert include Original Bouyon Pioneers, Ophelia “Lady of Song” Marie, King of Cadence Chubbie and the Midnight Groovers, three-time Road March King Young Bull, Omari Banks from Anguilla, King Beau Beau, King Timo, Explosion Band, Remo, Control Band, DJ Dave Nice, DJ Biggers, and more.

Alain Richardson, Georges Richardson and Paul Whit from the HOPE and Music Development Foundation had the idea for a benefit concert as a replacement for the cancelled Creole Festival in Dominica, but it transpired that the Dominica Foundation’s Relief Committee in St. Maarten already had the idea for a concert and was more advanced in their planning for it.

Dominica Foundation President Maria Joseph thanked the entire population for its generosity thus far in coming together for the cause.

“I especially want to thank Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs who has let us use the Festival Village free of charge and also SOS Radio that assisted us with the promotion for the BBQ,” she said. “We are in a position now to ship six 40ft containers and two 20ft containers to Dominica. We want to thank everyone, the public, merchants, who brought food, water, goods, clothes etc and also Tropical Shipping for assisting us with the containers.”

The concert will also feature some cultural performances and extracts from MSR Cable TV’s film on Dominica.

Joseph indicated the emphasis now is more on helping with the re-construction phase in Dominica.

“From these funds we don’t plan to purchase more dry goods,” she said. “We want to assist but with something more long lasting, by St. Martin as a whole, not just by persons from Dominica in St. Maarten. It should be a gesture from the whole community. We want to build one or two houses for families that lost everything, or repair one of the schools.”

She appealed to the public to bring some goods to the concert to help complete one or two containers. A drop-off vehicle will be on hand at the village. It will also be possible to donate funds for Dominica at the village.

The concert has been made possible by the Governments from both sides of the island, SOS Radio, PJD 2, PJD 3, Laser 101, Youth Radio, La Voix FM Radio St. Martin, MSR Cable TV, Winair, Xtratight Entertainment, Oyster Bay Resort, Where the flex.com. Sound Masters, Sound 2000, Secretel, Smart AV, LCA Studio, and Rohie Ryddim.

Admission to the concert is US $20. Tickets for children (under 14) are US $10. Tickets can be purchased at both Van Dorp locations, SOS Radio, Youth Radio, and at the containers on the Pondfill, or from committee members by calling (0690) 22.92.67 or (0690)64.29.98.