USVI politician wants to expand island’s music industry
KINGSTON, Jamaica — One of the United States Virgin Islands’ (USVI) senior politicians plans to expand the Caribbean island’s music industry if he is elected governor of those territories this year.
Adlah Donastorg has been a senator in the USVI’s legislature since 1995. He unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2006 and 2010.
A Democrat, he will contest the country’s primary in August. Should Donastorg win, his next step is the general election in November.
The 51-year-old legislator is counting on support from the USVI’s growing music community to help see him through. The owner of Paradise Records, he has promoted festivals and shows featuring Jamaican acts like Capleton and Rhythm and Blues stars KCi and JoJo.
Structuring the USVI’s music industry would be one of Donastorg’s priorities if he becomes governor.
“We have to find ways to develop the talent here because when they go abroad and find better conditions, they don’t come back,” he said.
Holding regular seminars on copyright and publishing, as well as providing funding for major recordings and events, are some of Donastorg’s plans for the USVI’s entertainment sector.
The music scene in the tiny islands has grown considerably in the last decade. Reggae acts like singer Pressure and the band, Midnite, are known to Jamaicans.
Pressure had a big hit in Jamaica with ‘Love and Affection’ six years ago. Midnite has recorded at the Tuff Gong studios and collaborated with acts like neo-roots singer Jah9.
Of Latin heritage, Donastorg says reggae was a dominant sound during his youth in St Thomas.
“We listened to a lot of Marley, Peter Tosh and Dennis Brown…They were big in these parts,” he recalled. “They not only had a positive message, they appealed to different demographics.”
Donastorg has tried his hand as an entertainer. He recorded one song ‘Political Prosstertute’, as The Mighty Foncie, in 2000.
In 2012, Donastorg reached out to a younger ‘demo’ by starting Paradise Records. He has produced songs like ‘Wish You the Best’ by Ritical, a singer from the British Virgin Islands. Elections are held every four years in the USVI. Governors can serve only two consecutive terms.
Howard Campbell
