Investigations carried out by this reporter have established that Vinasha Productions, the organiser of the just concluded first Gambian movie award ceremony, is owing Kairaba Beach Hotel a total amount of D 257,000.

Vinasha owes this amount to Kairaba Beach Hotel because it failed to settle the hotel’s food bill.

When contacted last evening to shed light on the story, the Managing Director of Vinasha Productions, Mrs Nana Afori Atta-Oguntola, admitted the veracity of the story. She said: “We owe Kairaba Hotel this amount because we could not raise enough money from our sponsors to cover the cost of the whole movie award; because established industries do not support growing industries in The Gambia. “It is just sheer stubbornness and commitment to the ideals of Vinasha Productions, that we can create a viable film industry in The Gambia, that keep us going. People only give you lip service; they don’t back their words with actions.

“So luckily for us we have good strategic partners-Trust Bank-in every way and luckily they have extended an over draft of D150,000 for advance payment and we will sort out the rest of the balance over the next few weeks,” Mrs Atta-Oguntola disclosed.

“The hotel,” she conceded, “has been very patient and understanding. Their attitude towards the whole saga has been much appreciated.

“Despite this we consider this shortfall as a bump on the highway, which, like every other bump we come a cross, we shall surpass,” the Vinasha Managing Director confidently assured.