TelEm pays for US $1.2M Festival Center stage
~ Gets rights for 20 years ~
PHILIPSBURG/St. Maarten--TelEm has signed a contract with contractor Koop N.V. for the construction of a stage at the Festival Centre worth US $1.2 million. In return the telecommunications company will have its name at the top of the stage and will be exclusive provider for video streaming on the Internet.
The overall financial input will only grant TelEm access to the facilities. TelEm will still have to perform and develop the marketing possibilities for its product lines.
If any promoter organises a show or concert and has other sponsors, these sponsors cannot put their names on top of the stage unless they pay TelEm. With the contract signed TelEm, is guaranteed these rights for the next 20 years.
Economic Affairs Commissioner Theo Heyliger confirmed in yesterday’s Island Council meeting that TelEm would be paying for the stage. National Alliance (NA) requested that the issue be discussed in a public meeting of the Island Council after receiving unconfirmed information about the TelEm deal.
According to NA leader and Island Council member William Marlin, this deal will raise questions among the personnel of the company who are already concerned about their transfer.
Marlin asked several questions concerning the TelEm deal and about the overall cost for constructing the Festival Centre. Heyliger denied that the personnel of TelEm would be at risk due to this deal and pointed out that concerts organised by TelEm in the past had given excellent return on investment for the company, as it had been able to sell and market its products during these events
Furthermore, Heyliger said, the total project cost for the Festival Centre will be 5.7 million guilders being paid for via pre-financing through the Island Government’s budget. This money paid for the booths, paving and water lines, among other things.
The first phase will be ready on April 14 and will be celebrated with an open house. The Festival Centre will be managed by two departments: ROB and Support Services. Discussions are going on about possibly outsourcing these managing rights to a foundation.
The Festival Centre will be called Carnival Village only during Carnival. In this period St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation will manage the centre and the booths.
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