PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – A group of promoters and entertainers say they plan to write the State-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) asking it to withdraw its sponsorship of the February 18 concert featuring the American singer Beyonce.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – A group of promoters and entertainers say they plan to write the State-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) asking it to withdraw its sponsorship of the February 18 concert featuring the American singer Beyonce.

Former chief executive officer of the Caribbean Prestige Foundation, Gregory Fernandes, who is among those involved in the effort to get TSTT to rescind its decision, said that they intend submitting the letter to the company’s CEO, Roberto Peon, on Wednesday.

Fernandes, speaking on local radio here, said that TSTT has already indicated that it would be reducing its funding to activities for the Carnival celebrations this year.

“Bringing Beyonce at this time puts more pressure on the industry,” he said, adding “Carnival activity is a very high risk and a lot of bands suffer high losses”.

Fernandes said that the group of promoters and entertainers “want to discuss with TSTT the position they have taken to present Beyonce in concert so soon after Carnival and their decision to cut back and even pull sponsorship of Carnival events.

Fernandes also said according to media reports, the production cost for the Beyonce concert is in the vicinity of TT$10 million (US$1.4 million).

The Recording Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (RIATT) said it was also raising objection to the concert.

“The State making a $10 million investment to stage an artiste like Beyonce in Trinidad and Tobago is a very large investment,” said RIATT general secretary Fabien Alphonso in a press statement.

“Not using this occasion to initiate discussions on collaborations between Beyonce and any of our local flagship artistes would be considered a wasted opportunity as the Trinidad and Tobago Entertainment Company Ltd (TTENT) was established for this exact purpose.

“Furthermore, it’s unfortunate that TTENT is not engaged in the planning process of an event of this magnitude. This would have ensured an opportunity to position local music internationally via the current largest female performer in the world,” he said.

But Lisa Agard, executive head of Mobile and Legal Services at TSTT, said the company would be in breach of its contract with Beyonce if it discloses the cost for the concert.

’I can’t give you exact numbers, particularly with regard to what she is costing. Not because we have any reluctance to disclose it, but there are confidentiality provisions in her contract with us,’ Agard told a local newspaper.

But she insisted that her company’s involvement in other activities for the Carnival would not suffer as a result of the show.

’I can tell you that when you look at all of the things we are involved in whether in culture, sports or in the community generally in Trinidad and Tobago our expenditure on those far exceeds the expenditure we are going to incur as a result of this concert.’

’We have spent, we will spend and will continue to spend millions of dollars sponsoring many Carnival events. That commitment remains,’ she said.

Meanwhile, TSTT has confirmed that a company owned by West Indies cricket icon, Brian Lara, and star footballer Dwight Yorke, was one of the main contractors for the concert.

TSTT spokesman, Grame Suite said that LAY Management has been retained by TSTT to help in the coordination and logistics associated with the event, and Agard, said the company would assume responsibility for the venue minus stage, sound and lights when the country’s largest telecommunications provider signs the contract.

Public Utilities Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid is quoted in Wednesday’s publication of the NEWSDAY newspaper as ordering TSTT to produce a report over its expenditure for concert.

“On the matter of the expenditure, I have asked for the facts and for a report on what the facts are,” Abdul-Hamid told the newspaper.

The promoters say the most expensive tickets for the show, valued at TT$1,600 (US$266) have already been sold out and the Trinidad Guardian newspaper reported Wednesday that fans of the singer in Suriname have been paying as much as US$860 to travel to Trinidad to attend the one day event which is part of Beyonce Worldwide tour.