Bocelli confirms he will sing at Cayman fundraiser
(CNS): Andrea Bocelli, the famous blind Italian tenor, has confirmed that he is interrupting his official world tour to do a fundraising concert in the Cayman Islands on Saturday evening. The special charity event has caused a stir on social media over the last few weeks as people called into question the validity of the concert due to some major errors in the promotional material and misleading claims about where the event was being held and for what purpose.
However, Bocelli issued an official release saying he was “thrilled” with the chance to perform in the Cayman Islands this weekend for the first time. Tickets for the event, which organisers say will be held at Pedro St James, have reportedly sold for $1,500 and $2,500.
Dr Ronald Nutt and his wife, Lynda, who are residents of Cayman and the founders of the non-profit organisation LRN Charitable Company, which is registered as a Cayman Islands NPO, have said the concert is to raise money for the research and development of a piece of medical machinery, patented by Nutt, to enable the early detection of cancer.
However, in the first marketing material circulated in Cayman to promote the event, the charitable company name was misspelt and an incorrect logo was used. The concert was said to be taking place at Pedro St James with dinner included in the ticket at the Mandarin Hotel in Beach Bay, which has not yet been built. Those who wanted to buy the costly tickets were asked to pay via wire transfer and the details of how the money being raised would actually be used were vague.
In a press release issued on 18 February, Lynda Nutt said her husband had co-invented and developed PET-CT, and LRN was founded for the purpose of “continuing the global advancements in the battle against cancer by improving early detection technologies through their new initiatives”. She said the organisation was working on the development of the Time-Resolved Positron Emission Tomography, or TPET, and currently holds two patents.
“We believe this new technology will qualify as a screening tool for most cancers occurring in the human body. When the goals of very low radiation dose requirements and lower cost of scanning are met, TPET scanning will be similar to that of breast cancer screening and can be more available to everyone. The funds raised from this performance will help support our efforts,” Nutt said about what is expected to become a profit-making venture.
CNS contacted Nutt to give her an opportunity to address concerns raised by a number of compliance officers in the private sector, especially over the request for payment via wire transfer. One compliance expert told CNS that such a request from a charitable trust should raise a red flag for the authorities.
Government officials had told CNS that they were aware of questions about the charity and the validity of the concert, given the concerns about the early promotional materials and the misleading information. However, they confirmed that LRN was a registered charity and the materials naming it as the “LNR Charitable Company” were made in error.
Nutt confirmed receipt of questions from CNS on 20 February and said she appreciated the opportunity to respond to those concerns and that she would get the answers to us. However, despite our efforts to follow up, on the eve of the concert, Nutt has still not responded to the questions.
As of 18 February, Nutt had said that 80% of the tickets for the private concert were already sold. Anyone with questions or requiring further information about the event can call Nutt on 1-345-916-6626.
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Category: Fundraiser, Local News
Why is that these Government Ministers are quick to take photos of themselves with their constituents for every last thing, EXCEPT when they are at the Andrea Bocelli concert. I was there and saw Panton, Saunders, Bush and Kenneth with their wives at the VIP $5,000 a ticket function. That’s $40K of the tax payers money. There was a photographer there – so why are they not sharing those photos? Do tell PACT
The LRN Foundation does not seem to be listed under the Cayman Islands Charities.
It would be useful to know more about this Foundation.
CNS: LRN Charitable Company is registered as a Cayman Islands NPO.
Whenever art is intentionally made unavailable to the ordinary person, for whatever purported good reason, it is a shameful affair.
Social media has made Cayman into a mainly nasty negative culture of always such negative hateful comments. Where have all the positive people gone, because they are no longer in Cayman.
Shame on all the negative commenters.
For the purpose of public transparency, the massive amount of cash in the Cancer Societies should be made public.
What should also be made public are the requests from local cancer victims for financial assistance.
There will be a huge discrepancy and the question is why?
Well if you know there will be a huge discrepancy, obviously you have facts to back up your allegations, can you please publish what research/evidence you have gathered to support your statement.
I understand that Cabinet ministers attended this event.
I wonder how much of our money was spent on this. surely Cabinet members would not have accepted a free $1500 ticket. standards in public life
$1,500 seatsā¦?
The ministers and their wives sat front row in the most expensive, a$10,000 per person seats.
They would not be seen with the riff raff in the Cheap seats.
Exactly 1:55 as well as Ministerial Code of Conduct 14.1, but who’s worried about adhering to any ethical code when previous transgressions are waved on through. The additional question might also be asked is could the Ministers have placed themselves in a compromised position especially with the Nutts heavy engagement in US politics, – all assuming they were gifted the tickets.
Why was a public venue allowed to be used as a private IPO “charity” at all?
Pedro Castle has private events all the time so why not the number one rated most popular tenor in the world.
No problem who got the Free tickets then ??
Not self serving IPO ones, bobo
It was the most wonderful event of the year or if not, the all time. I loved it !
You obviously werenāt here for Vanilla Ice.
I am so pleased that you were able to attend. I wish I had been there also, but as a retired teacher I could not afford the admission fee. Hopefully he will return some day.
It was the most wonderful event of the year or if not, the all time. I loved it !
The venue was very nice but the lighting was terrible. The spotlights shined on the audience instead of the stage. You couldnāt watch the show as comfortably as you would have liked. The talent was great.
Sorry to hear this, but at least you were able to afford to attend unlike the 99% of the rest of us!
The public venue charged a fee , I am certain.
Then of course Kenny coulda exchanged that in return for front row seats.
I saw him in the USA over Christmas, he was AMAZING! I paid $475 for a decent seat. I’m glad there are charging so much in Cayman. He’s the classiest concert that place has ever seen or will ever see. And none of the riffraff can afford to go, thank God.
pretty funny 8:15, – and what do you honestly think he’s thinking when he’s aware of performing in front of a******* like you
Not knowing the difference between “their” “there” and “they’re” you should consider yourself lucky to have inherited enough money to be able to attend concerts.
To the poster at 8:15 āya mamaā is the riff raff.š¤
*yo
Thank you for your satire – not sure if 8.59 and 9.18 and 5.31 got it, though!
Lots of these comments sound like some upset, broke people that are unhappy about not being able to afford this event or do not have the caliber to appreciate it.
There are more than enough $10 and $25 entry events in Cayman for everyone to get entertained.
The mentality of anyone that could complain about a legendary entertainer performing in Cayman is madness. There is rarely a ruckus when dirt music performers flood our shores every weekend to play their IQ dropping lyrics and beats.
Youāre seem pretty impassioned with your opinion 9:54 and are exactly one of the reasons for the divide in Caymans community fabric. Iād suggest taking your head out of your self important *** and read again the majority of these posts and try better to comprehend the context.š
People like you with such comments 9:54 epitomise the āno futureā that the punk era vocalised back in the 70ās. Itās also noted of your inability to recognise individualism by way of ānot having the calibre to appreciate itā when there may be something else more relevant and more existential to a person within their own unique perception of life.
https://www.growthinktank.org/en/the-punk-movement/
https://www.growthinktank.org/en/the-punk-movement/
100%give me the clash or green day,madness,the specials over this anyday of the week.and that’s just a few.i guess that’s my low calibre ass .
wrong,it’s me listening to the music I enjoy,not trying in some pathetic way by association implying some kind of intellectual higher capacity.
Its not the ticket price – its the combination of a) asking for money by wire b) including dinner at a non existent hotel and c) zero transparency on how the funds are going to be used, even though part of the sales pitch is that your ticket price will go to a charitable purpose. But go on then – display your wealth and supposed cultural superiority by dropping $2500 on an event that may never take place and where you don’t know where the money is going, just because you can afford to. To me that doesn’t show you are superior at all – it shows me that you are a remarkably naive if not downright dumb as well as arrogant.
I don’t think anyone is upset about not being able to go. I think the comments are directed at the fact that there is a fundraiser that seems to be more about a personal patent than anything to do with actual cancer research.
It does seem suspect that there were spelling errors and wrong logos and that it cannot be verified as a NPO here.
I would have loved to have been able to gone, especially my mom who doesn’t travel anymore, but the price was out of my range. I don’t begrudge anyone the ability to afford that or not, but for me the whole thing seems suspect when the “charity” seems more about personal matter than an actual charity that benefits the most needy.
“Raise the Standards” you sounds like an entitled prick.
CNS: LRN Charitable Company is registered company. See here. Because it was spelt wrong in the original promotion, people couldn’t find it on the list.
No one seems upset by the price or the singer. What seems odd is the “charity” involved in funding a for-profit business run by the same people who run the “charity”. Lots of businesses do good and useful things, but they generally do so by, you know, engaging in normal processes for obtaining investors and developing their products, and not fobbing it off as a charitable effort of some kind.
All the worthy charities here, and this event thousands would have loved to attend and contribute to said worthy charities was used as a posh event to fund the invention of a super rich couple.
It doesn’t make sense anywhere but here.
The Soprano accompanying Bocelli was truly world class wonderful.
Her name was not on the programme, anyone know who she is..?
Deez?
They change from tour to tour and place to place. I saw him in December and I think the singer with him was from Cuba. I want to say her last name was Aleida, maybe? To be honest I only had eyes and ears for him and didn’t catch her name. The next time I see him will be in Rome!
The ticket price isn’t what behooved me. What behooves me is that there isn’t any preliminary bouts before the main event. Me personally tinks I be likely at Vic’s Bar watching it live in style. Do hope the Honorary Big Mac McKeeva represents West Bay proper by gettin on stage and sings a duet. respek.
āBehoovedā?
Do you know what youāre sayingā¦?
Clearly not.
Silver ticket holder here. I really donāt care who the money goes to. It was a once in a life time opportunity and the entire evening was amazing.
All those people getting their panties in a twist because they couldnāt afford to to the concert, you can find Maestro Bocelli on YouTube. Listen to him there and save up to buy a ticket if you want to see him one day. Thatās what I did.
All you uncultured keyboard warriors just need to stop. Youāre not happy unless youāre trying to out someone down. Try being happy with yourself.
so hypothetically 11:50 you wouldn’t have a problem if the money was going to arm Russia in its fight against Ukraine ? By the same token when the beneficiary of proceeds here are murky enough, you’d prefer to ignore it and chase opportunism for self absorbtion, – got it, thanks
I enjoyed the show for free from the ironshore, thank you very much. Even wedged our beach chairs in and brought our own drinks.
One of the government Ministry has a compliance unit that conduct audits on non-profit organization. I once visited a function at Marriott and they were one of the presenter. I hope they will conduct an audit to reassure the public.
All the Trumpers were there. Imagine that.
Perhaps we should do an audit on your disrespectful āTrumpersā statement. We are lucky to live in a place where we have the freedom to choose our politicians and where we go to church without being called names by people like you for our beliefs.
And others have the freedom to call Trumpers out for ā¦ being Trumpers.
A lost opportunity
This whole thing doesn’t pass the smell test. I smell another STINK coming for Cayman. Just a pity that Mr Bicelli was lured into this.
He was āluredā by getting paid a lot for singing for a little.
Why donāt you Google the prices for top class seats at the recent Tampa Fla location They were $1,700 plus snd being scalped for $3,000 per ticket and seats not as good as here in Cayman. Plus we had no air fare, no hotel bill etc etc expenses. Get your facts straight please. I will agree with you that the concert was magical. Under the moon and stars at our own Pedro Castle.
So tonight an area on busy Spotts Straight was lined, (on both sides of the road at some points) with cars and huge busses, clearly causing a hazard for drivers. Where were the police?! There were also cars and busses that had taken over the entrance and road to a private development, adjacent to what I now understand might be the Nuttās residence. It is also my understanding that a dinner, prior to the Andrea Bocelli concert, was being held there with politicians and others in attendance.That is all well and good but this went on for hours and had there been an emergency for anyone in that neighborhood, l am sure emergency vehicles would have had difficulty accessing the area. I contacted someone in the development affected and learned that no one had the decency to contact either the developer or homeowners prior to the vehicular takeover of their neighborhood! The homeowners were not pleased by this disrespectful intrusion. Who would be?! The audacity of those people to think it was ok to do something like that. Thereās a saying āMoney cannot buy class.ā I guess this is a true example of that.
You mean to tell me that the dinner wasn’t at the Mandarin Oriental after all?
In the land where churches are granted nonprofit status, this should not come as a surprise.
This whole idea is nutty.
When we get personal advantage so integrally intertwined with philanthropic goals it gives an uneasy feeling, particularly in light of the slow release of information, important aspects of which turned out to be inaccurate.
For example, while this appears on the surface to be a worthy cause, which reliable independent auditing agency is doing normal checks and balances to ensure this money is not going into personal pockets rather than to the stated cause? This is standard practice for reputable organizations.
Personally, before I bought a ticket, I would have liked more third party bonafides on goals and management of funds.
Since these Nutts are using our public venue at Pedro St James to hosts a fundraiser with Mr Bocelli we need a transparent and open accounting for the Cayman public to review.The Premier and Elected official MP Heather Bodden the two representative for this districts should make this public.
Mmmmmm Pedro Castle venue ? I do wonder who in this PACT government this falls under and who authorized this ? Definitely needs to be look into and the Nutts Connection to them ?
Anyone can book a venue at Pedro. Didnt you know this?
I heard about this about a month ago. I love to hear Mr. Bocelli sing but I knew from the get go that I would not be able to afford a ticket. I don’t mind that – I will continue to listen to him on YouTube. What is terrible is this is turning out to be an embarrassment for some one of his talent and renown. According to the names being dropped of who are involved I thought this would have been a flawless arrangement.
I am building a bridge to Miami and will be selling shares. If you would like to get in on this lucrative deal just wire transfer to my account. Pre construction prices only $10,000 per share… Please wire your funds by April 1st..
Don’t know why everyone is moaning about the price. If you flew to Miami to see him, you’d spend more than US$1,500 for flights, hotel, food, car, concert tickets, and the obligatory trip to Target. This is an amazing opportunity. I was going to see him at the Teatro de Silenzio in Italy and then COVID showed up. I think $1,500 is perfectly reasonable in those circumstances.
And, I CANNOT wait to see Adrea Bocelli perform tomorrow night.
Do you actually work for living ?? Or mommy and Daddy still paying your bills as usual? Target comment a dead giveaway dear.
I had cancer last year and had several pet scans Iām now cancer free.
Thank you
Andrea Bocelli
For donating your time.
The fact that so many people are giving this particular comment a thumbs down tells you all you need to know about the people who are viewing the event with such negativity.
The event was spectacular. The opportunity to see such a great talent with such a small audience in such a lovely location was priceless.
Whilst I completely disagree with the Nutt’s politics, if they do indeed support Trump, their underwriting of this concert, with all the risk involved, was greatly appreciated by me.
I am confident the Maestro and his team fully investigated the bona fides of the Nutt’s charitable intentions for the event, and found them to be genuine, otherwise he would not have agreed to perform.
To those unable to attend, I am sorry you missed it.
To those who could have attended, but refused to because of some conspiracy theory you heard, or invented, please bottle up your faux outrage and use it for other more important things, like income inequality, climate change, environmental protection etc. etc.
āTo those who could have attended, but refused to because of some conspiracy theory you heard, or invented, please bottle up your faux outrage and use it for other more important things, like income inequality, climate change, environmental protection etc. etc.ā
So all the things that Trump, The Trumpettes crusade & lobby against, š¤”
I guess ill sit on my bonnet and listen to this guy sing. 1500-2500? U mad.
Obviously Cayman blind to the recession right? No doubt they be selling 25 ci strawberries too
If nothing else, this is the most apt representation of what the Cayman Islands has now become.
Legge yada yada yada
$2500? Iād pay a tenor at most.
Who?
Bobo-celli
A lot of you are not expected to know him. Hearing all these typical computer generated identical metal licking beats blasting from every speeding car and mumbling sounds generated by dancehall characters with aspirations to seem a bad bwoi, reggaeton sameness and home grown celebrities, that would be too much to hope for. He literally is too good to be known by many of you.
He is very good but he is also all over YouTube so I don’t understand your little dig. Sounds like this is the first you’ve heard of him you condescending dumb,dumb. You might have money but sounds like you have no class so you shouldn’t really attend.
To 7.34 You are a low class disrespectful snob. No matter how many Bocelli concerts you attend it wont raise your low stature.
Whatever. I may be a snob, also arrogant, but I don’t care. At least I know great music, not computer generated garbage.
7:43 Snobbish. Not everyone deserves to be on our roads hearing the beats from passing cars.
If it offends your ears put on sound cancelling head phones on your way to the airport.
Knowing and liking are two different things.
Thatās not even funny. In the slightest.
Peasant! He’s a famous footballer.
If you have to askā¦
This is actually quite sad. Andrea Bocellli has been my favourite tenor for over 40 years. I raised my child listening to his music and still listen to him on YouTube videos, all the time. I have many of his CDs as well. It goes without saying that when plans of him possibly coming here to perform was announced we became very excited; however, that soon changed to disappointment when the price tag was discovered.This is no negative reflection on Andrea Bocelli, however, in fact, I suspect that the marketing, claiming it to be a fundraiser, would have played a big part in him deciding to come and perform. This is a man who often freely shares his amazing talent with the world for worthy causes. Itās just the humble, caring and generous person that he is, and it really sucks because his performances in Florida sell at affordable prices. If this was truly the fundraiser the Nutts claim it is, then perhaps this situation would not be a topic of discussion. I agree with the sentiments of others that it is seemingly an event geared towards the rich purporting to raise funds for a device the Nutts will hold the patent for. One from which they stand to make an immense profit. However, this is Cayman so it is no surprise, though disappointing, that this is happening. Nevertheless, perhaps one day Andrea Bocelli will come again when the rest of his fans can afford to come and enjoy his amazing performance. I pray that Andrea, his family, members of his orchestra and his operating team will be treated well, and provided with everything needed to have a safe and enjoyable visit.
Well I am certain Bocelli has requirements that must be met to agree to do a fundraiser event for a non profit. So to question the validity of the foundation is to question his as well. This is a fundraiser hence why the tickets are so much more to attend, this is common practice in any large city for fundraising events. Many events are thousands of dollars per plate and no promise of such amazing entertainment. For those that want him to come and his performances to be more accessible please go ahead and make it happen, it not as easy as you all think!
There is no question of Andrea Bocelli. So stop it. I am sure that decisions were made based on what was presented to his people. Likewise, based on the information provided to us by the organizers, we the public, also have a right to raise questions as to whether or not this was truly a charity event.
Thank you @5:11 pm for your post documenting your frustration which is also similar to mine. I have not been his fan as long as you but I think you are right that Andrea Bocelli is not only a great performer but a humble, kind and generous gentleman. The Nutts may just be using the āfundraiserā theme to prey on that side of his personality to draw him here. If so shame on them. Just sayin
really ?
you have a favorite tenor?
As American General Anthony McAuliffe famously said: NUTTS!
Trump Fundraiser..
MAGA time!
Make America Great Again.
All The Way With Trump in 2024.
America may become great again once heās in jail,
Whatās wrong with Trump, especially after āSleepyā Joe Biden has been President? Make Cayman Great Again!
Everything is wrong with him. Please do not sully the event by mentioning his name.
Same as every other American president, a war criminal.
āTrump University Scamā – for $1000 Alex
Great to see all the uncultured and pooros contributing to the comments.
In my youth, there was a catchy tune from a musical band with a nice young lad. Motorhead, if I recall correctly.
Don’t you mean ‘povos”?
The use of the words uncultured and poors in this thread to try to insult and demean others exposes how prejudiced and hateful you are. The likes of you, and the 9 others who gave you thumbs up, should never be allowed near to an Andrea Bocelli performance.
Sad to report that there are thousands of like-minded wealthy expats here, with more on the way.
Lot’s of questions here but did our local compliance “expert” really state that it is a red flag to be using a wire transfer for payments in this case. That is nonsensical… what is better getting cash in a Foster’s bag?
He who hath the gold….yada, yada
Regulatory authorities asleep at the wheel. zzzzzzzzzzz
It was a bank transfer which makes the most sense to safely pay for the tickets and not encore credit card fees to take away from the funds towards the purpose. It funny wires are red flag for a country known for fundās management and financial services. That compliance specialist should be handed the door for that damn ass comment, are they saying our banks are questionable to a media house? As one would expect the foundation had to do KYC like all the rest of us.
The red flag is the self-dealing. Would not have been allowed to be an NPO if the funds used directly or indirectly benefitted the board. Just sayin….
If I hear just sayin one more time I’m going to body slam you. just sayin..
Receiving funds via wire has no relation to the apparent self-dealing and other noise around this event.
Nutt sold a company/rights/ shares many years ago to Siemens for close to a value of a billion dollars….this is nutz.
This is a seed round vc social enterprise raising money using Bocelli as the carrot. Any IP will be patented and commercialized, so Company Registrar ought to really query the NPO false-flag at minimum, and have them pay the extra few hundred bucks.
If the charity funds the development the charity will own any resulting IP no? If you wanted to create a lasting legacy with it’s own income after your death this would seem like a pretty smart way to do it.
We don’t have enough information to say, but it is much more likely (on the basis of the fact that we are told the Nutts own the patent) that the charity will either make a grant to the Nutts/some other entity owned by them or directly cover research expenditures – it would take a donation/transfer of the patent to the charity for there to be a (potential) income stream to the charity down the road.
Just ask Kenny, Seymour and Saunders, plus wives, sitting front row in the $10,000 per person seats..
Has this been confirmed???
The MC welcomed them in the very front row..
I guess we paid for that.
Looks more like an IPO for the wealthy than a “fundraiser”
Sound exactly like it to me and and then cover it as charity. Wonder if that got them any perks woth cig and worc on fees and normal due process. This place become more and more a cartoon land. Concert for charity that rasing money for my own financial benefits sounds about Cayman.
So let me get this straight. The Nutts are promoting this concert as a charity fundraiser. The benefiting charity is owned by the Nutts and the funds raised will be used to further develop a medical device which the Nutts have a patent on. Hardly a charity!
Hereās a thought, donate the money raised to a REAL charity and go to the capital markets to raise money for your personal business ventures.
Not only does this stink but itās also just plain Nutts.
If they did indeed invent the PET-CT and hold the patent, shouldn’t they be uber rich? Why do they need to raise funds for this new device? And why should the public pay for something they stand to profit from immensely.
I worry that this is a fund raiser for Trump’s campaign.
They may not yet have turned a commercial profit.
That doesn’t entitle them to NPO status, especially when they are the ones benefitting from the proceeds with a long term plan to generate profits on their patented products. Stinks to high hell.
Bingo!! Funny how Trump is campaigning again now hhmmmm
Does Mr Bocelli performed a medical and in possession of a work permit ?
You should read the article a few weeks ago discussing how permits work for performers.
Do you actually think this should be required?
Make Pedro Great Again!
Well, this sets the record straight.
I’d expect Andy B’Celli-Ebanks to be singing with his world famous skiffle band.
I’ll be watching for free, from the public right of way along the property boundary on the ironshore.
Me too bobo, see you there. Iāll bring the Appleton!
Glad I wonāt be alone in the right of way! Willing to trade some of my QQ (flask of white rum) for some Appleton!
Good for you – and you’ll save $2,500 to boot!
Can the organisers state, for the record, that no funds raised by this event will go towards Trump’s re=election campaign?
Oh yeah, Lynda Nutt knows how to fundraise !
http://www.trumpettesusa.com/lynda-nutt/
Disgusting and exactly what Cayman does NOT want on our shoresā¦.
Eeew
Thank you 4:33 pm for posting this link, which explains the Trump/MAGA references. I will now repost Incase anyone missed it:
http://www.trumpettesusa.com/lynda-nutt/
Well he wonāt see me there.
That’s really bad, very good and pretty funny all at the same time.
I’m here all week.
nothing on this island free huh???…i love the singer..but price…uuufff
I raised concerns over this when the concert was announced. The Nutts seemed very cagey about answering questions as to the validity of their fund-raising efforts. It all seems very odd.
Is the concert going ahead? I wonder who will attend ? Who roll benefit?
Letās hope innocent people are not being taken for a ride. Lynda Nutt is a committed Trumpette, which doesnāt sit very well with scientific endeavour or classical music culture.
This whole thing is sketchy. A charity which is underwriting the Nutts for-profit business enterprise should at least be independently run, and accountable to an actual board.
If their ideas and IP are actually worth anything, there are certainly tech investing funds who have the expertise to analyze the tech, and assess whether it is worth anything. Medical imaging is not a field where one maverick comes up with some radical advance. But who has heard of a medical imaging system that was financed by a charity run by someone who is the principal beneficiary of the charity. And why canāt they attract private capital funding for this project?
This thing seems a little off.