THE DIGICEL Barbados Reggae Festival carries a price tag of almost $1.4 million.
This sum covers the entertainment, Value Added Tax, rental of facilities and infrastructure.
And according to promoter Al Gilkes the event also generates hundreds of jobs during its staging in Barbados annually.
Speaking after the official launch of the five-day festival at the Mount Gay Visitor Centre, Spring Garden, St Michael, Gilkes, a director of FAS event organizers, said yesterday that his company employed as many as 200 people at a single event like Reggae On The Hill.
In relation to the festival as a magnet for the increasing tourism arrivals, Gilkes said he was heartened by the presence of personnel from the tourism sector headed by Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy.
“They are now fully with us”, Gilkes said.
Gilkes also said that it was FAS’ intention to have a successful event this year. He said he was not going to “dilute” the festival inspite of arguments by some to hold back in light of the “economic downturn internationally”.
