Fete promoters have been allowed to use the east court of the Jean Pierre Complex to host their shows.

The good news came for them two weeks ago after a meeting with Sports Minister Gary Hunt at his office on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain. Promoter Randy Glasgow said yesterday following a meeting with Prime Minister Patrick Manning on January 8, promoters met with Hunt and they were given permission to use the sporting facility. The Sports Ministry last year banned the staging of cultural shows and Carnival fetes at sporting facilities, leaving promoters with no venue for their shows. Glasgow, who promotes popular fetes like Ladies Night Out, Ladies Rule vs Man Power and Comedy Festival, was happy with Hunt’s decision.

“The new venue holds less than the main court where fetes were previously held but we don’t care how small it is, we will make it do,” he said. The east court, he said, held 6,000 persons as opposed to the 8,000-person capacity at the main court. Glasgow said while the quality of his shows would not be affected by the smaller venue cutbacks in other areas would have to be made. “We will have to cut back on some things like advertising. We’ll have to pull back some ads,” he said. Glasgow said renovation work on the new venue was started by the ministry last week and he was confident it would be completed in time for the events.

“The Sporting Ministry is very efficient and promoters are happy,” he added. As to whether promoters would be allowed to use the same venue next year Glasgow said: “I can’t say. We will have to play it by ear.” But while Glasgow was able to adjust to the new venue, Spektacular Promotions’ Frank Martineau said he could not do the same. Martineau said because of the limited space at the east court he was forced to move his Battle of the Sexes show to the Centre of Excellence, which would accommodate about 7,000 persons. “It was not feasible to go the east court,” he said. Battle of the Sexes comes off on February 9.

Fetes at Jean Pierre
February 5:
Ladies Night Out.

February 10:
Ladies Rule vs Man Power.

February 18:
Premiere of Alternative Comedy Festival.

February 20:
Alternative Comedy Festival.