Parks Department Respond To Chewstick
The Ministry of Environment and Planning responded to Chewstick’s statement about the cancellation of KiteFest, saying they do not have a record of permit application from Chewstick for Kitefest, and also stated they told Chewstick that the permit could be immediately approved and collected this morning [Mar 8].
Yesterday the Chewstick Foundation said they “have no choice but to cancel this year’s Good Friday KiteFest due to a lack confirmation from various government departments which has severely hampered the ability to seek adequate funding.”
Chewstick Foundation Co-Founder and Community Events Planner Najib Chentouf said he had sent “numerous emails to the Department without response” and had placed “countless calls, leaving voicemails and messages but has yet to make progress.”
The full statement from the Ministry is below:
The Ministry of Environment and Planning would like to respond to claims made by the Chewstick Foundation that as a result of the unresponsiveness of the Department of Parks the annual Kitefest, planned to be held at Horseshoe Bay Beach, has had to be cancelled.
Chewstick stated in a release that having made an application to the Department of Parks in the Fall of 2012 for a permit for the event, and having not had a reply, followed-up with numerous e-mails and voice mails, all without a response.
The Department of Parks can confirm that they do not have a record of an application for a permit from Chewstick for the Kitefest event, nor do they have a record of e-mails or telephone calls regarding a permit. The Department can confirm two e-mails from Chewstick with regard to other events, most notably the annual summer Beachfest.
Upon hearing of Chewstick’s dilemma via the media yesterday, the Department contacted Chewstick to resolve the matter. Chewstick was unable to indicate when they had made an application, only stating that it had been sometime in the Fall.
The Department finds this curious as Chewstick has obtained permits from the Department of Parks previously and is aware of the process. For example, on 5th April last year Chewstick applied for and received a permit for an event on 6th April.
Further, the Department has provided Chewstick with the contact information of a Department officer in order to ensure that permits are expedited.
During yesterday’s discussion, the Department also advised Chewstick that a permit for Kitefest could be immediately approved and collected this morning, Friday, 8th March. Chewstick indicated that it was not able to accept the permit.
The Department of Parks values the use of our National Parks for wholesome family activities and has been pleased to partner with community organizations such as Chewstick to this end.
The Department regrets the confusion that has surrounded Chewstick’s efforts to host Kitefest and trusts that the arrangements we have put in place with them will ensure the smooth processing of all future applications.
Read More About
Category: All, Entertainment, News
Comments (44)
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed
Articles that link to this one:
- 2013 KiteFest Back On After Prior Cancellation | Bernews.com | April 8, 2014
Somebody is lying……..
Who cares the permit has been issued!
Issued, but not accepted.
“Chewstick indicated that it was not able to accept the permit.”
Someone is indeed lying…you cannot bullsh!t about the existance of emails. If Chewstick cannot print-off emails from their Sent Box to the govt, then they should issue an apology and ya boy Najib should issue a statement.
That’s what I was thinking. Should be easy enough for Chewstick to prove the email part of their statement by showing Bernews or another Media outlet their SENT folder which would contain records of the outgoing mail and prove, who what, where and when.!
Bwwahahahaha…
Sounds like Chewstick is not telling the TRUTH!
Really? but the Ministry said there was no application, but come pick up the permit…. that doesn’t make sense.
Seems to me they are/were trying to work with Chewstick on good faith.
Seems they just don’t have the funds !!
Sounds like a great opportunity for someone else. If the weather is good people will be guaranteed to show up – with or without Chewstick.
I wish I was younger and still had contats that could help pull this off – I would jump on this opportunity.
Really now…only de plp lie!
You are the death of some of the convos I swear
Shame on you Chewstick for what appears to be you stirring the pot. Why use a family event like this to make some sort of point? Shameful.
Easy solution. The media just has to ask Chewstick to produce the email from last year.
Sounds like Chewstick didnt get the funding they needed so are trying to lay blame elsawhere
The whole thing is a typical Bermuda tempest in a teapot.
Thinking the same. Or maybe they are no longer interested in doing this type of event (for whatever reason) and looking for a way out.
This is why I always add the “delivery” and “read” receipt options to importants email. That way you know, if it was recieved by the email server and who read it.
“The Ministry of Environment and Planning responded to Chewstick’s statement about the cancellation of KiteFest, saying they do not have a record of permit application from Chewstick for Kitefest, and also stated they told Chewstick that the permit could be collected this morning [Mar 8].”
No application for a permit, but have a permit for them to pick up?
Hmmmm. That statement in itself is a contradiction.
I thought the same thing until i read the actual statement.
Yea, I read it too and then wanted to retract my statement. oh well
@Sorry Sir & Sandgrownan, good point, we amended it…
Good work
Not if you read on… it said that they contacted him after hearing about his problem (from the media)and said it could be taken care of immediately and that he could pick it up today.
The Department would gladly produce the permit if Chewstick requested one. According to Chewstick, they applied for one months ago but never heard back even tho in the past they have applied for permits and have gotten them the very next day.
So either someone is fibbing, or something on the Department’s end went wrong and the request wasn’t filed and/or otherwise doesn’t exist. Which doesn’t really matter since all they have to do is apply and one will be granted; which is what the Department was getting at if you take a little bit of time to read and comprehend.
Chewstick aren’t those kind of people. Though this all seems a bit fishy, they just wouldn’t do that.
Regardless of who dropped the ball on obtaining and granting the permit; why, if the permit is now a moot point, is this event still a no-go?
This is what is most odd about this update. Chewstick has some explaining to do apparently.
Ball is now in your court Chewstick…
C’mon Gavin just throw the party. all u need now is to build a stage and get a BELCO feed and a temporary liquor license and food concession. not rocket science Gavin cuz you’ve done it all before
Could it be that Chewstick bit off a bigger stick than they could chew? There must be a paper trail.
Remember who was in charge of the Ministry of Parks late last year so they cant blame the present Minister
No one has blamed a minister. The ministry is being blamed.
I apologize for my error – it should have been as you so corrected
Well, we will just have to go back to the days of old, when families got together at a relative or friends house and flew kites in the back yard or a school field and played marbles in their own sand. It was a time for families to get together with the grandparents and older relatives, eat those hot cross buns and fish cakes and enjoy the day.
Now the NEW GENERATION want to go to Horseshoe Bay and leave Granny and the older generation at home and we all know that the older folks don’t really want to go to Horseshoe Bay to fly kites in the cold. (If it is hot earlier in the day it will certainly be damp by the evening)
People need to learn how to create their own enjoyment and stop depending on others to create it for them.
Horseshoe Bay is not the only place in Bermuda to have fun on Good Friday. Get together with your family and close friends and create your own Good Friday fun day. YOU DO NOT NEED A PERMIT FOR THAT.
Agree ..
exactly, it’s not always about money, permit, etc. get creative
I have been going to st. David’s for years at the Cricket Club and you wouldn’t want anything better – one heckuva family down there and lots of activities going on all day – absolutely fantastic.
I agree as well. You got me thinking. In fact I will be doing just that this year.
@ Chewstick there is a thing called digital footprint which can never be washed away…. Come up with the evidence and let us see because most of us are doubting you right now…. The same way you reported in the MEDIA that you applied from last year and made calls it is the same way you should prove your point in the MEDIA…. You made public allegations against the Parks Dept which painted them as being incompetent that which they have refuted so show us the proof.
I agree, the reputation and jobs of the department and its staff may be affected. Show us the proof. I for one will have no respect for Chewstick if I dont see evidence.
that event is always for the tourist anyway and is usually run by UBP. cheswick should have worked on their sponsors for a whole year.,, too me it’s always boring, they can add something more enjoy then what they have been brining forth to the people, like I said that event is not for the ppl of it’s for the tourist
@ Rebel
You are indeed a self-centered fool. The event has always been for EVERYONE….Local, ex-pat and tourist !! History shows it was sponsored by the UBP and Dale Butler [PLP] providing the best fishcakes. Also it is not cheswick it is Chewstick who is putting on the event. Please, please divert your energy into getting an education and become a member of society instead of a victim.
I believe chewstick!!!!! Last year i called to get permits and to this day i have not heard back! Does not matter i went ahead and had my even regardless!!!! Government agency to do not always reply back unless you know somebody who knows somebody who knows some body! Government organization need to get it together. That is why they can say come pick up the permit, there was an application they just ignored it point blank!
Thanks OBA !