The Asha Bhosle concert controversy has deepened with WinTV, which had advertised the event, distancing itself from the concert and threatening to sue the promoters. T&T Guardian on Tuesday published a story about disgruntled patrons threatening to take legal action after several failed attempts to get the promoters to refund ticket-holders. The tickets cost $1,000. It is not known whether the concert is still being held. It was initially carded for March 8 at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s. Patrons began demanding refunds after the event was postponed to May 24 and the venue changed to Centre of Excellence in Macoya.
One of the promoters, Dr Lynette Persad, of the Little Warriors Foundation for Kids with Cancer, failed to fulfil her promises to refund patrons and has now stopped responding to their e-mails. She has also failed to respond to e-mail from T&T Guardian. The patrons have never met Persad and have not been furnished with a telephone number to contact her. In an unsigned statement on Wednesday, WinTV apologised for not responding to the T&T Guardian’s request for a comment, saying it has been “engrossed in trying to deal with this situation.”
Saying the company wished to put its position on record, WinTV explained that representatives of the Little Warriors Foundation for Kids with Cancer and Balaji Entertainment approached them several months ago, saying they had made arrangements to bring Asha Bhosle to T&T. “The persons led by a Dr Lynette Persad, wanted WinTV to be the official station for the concert, since is the leading station for Indian-niched content, and therefore had a natural market for the event. It stated that WinTV only agreed to be the official media house, carry the bulk of advertising and promote the event. “When the ads were produced and tickets printed, we noticed that the name of WinTV/Radio was used as a promoter.
“We immediately contacted the actual promoter and told them that we were not comfortable with this and would like to be recognised for what we agreed to; the official media station only.”
WinTV said the promoter assured them all was well with the concert. “Closer to the event WinTV again asked that the matter be corrected. It never was. However, we did not want to jeopardise the client’s event and our agreement by simply pulling the ads off the air, or order that tickets be re-printed.” When WinTV was informed by the promoter that the event would have to be postponed, the company said it immediately informed the promoters that people have been asking to be refunded.
Those dates arrived and the promoter in several instances did not keep their promise to have the funds delivered...again we were given dates, which we advertised, and again the promoter failed to deliver. “Indeed cheques issued to WINTV were not cleared and we too have not been paid monies promised. WINTV has suffered serious reputational damage because of this matter, which was totally out of our control. We have asked that the promoter come clean with us and acknowledge the request of patrons.” As a result, WINTV said it had initiated action through attorney Kevin Ratiram who is dealing with the matter.