Chief Jonathan Kruger said Tuesday afternoon that Boonstock promoter Colin Kobza has met with the band council and confirmed that a $200,000 bond covering extra policing costs for this weekend’s event has been paid by the festival.

Kruger said that answered council’s main concern.

“That’s the major concern of the band – the safety of the community,” he said.

The band council has therefore reinstated its previous support for Boonstock.

Despite the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch’s refusal to grant a liquor licence for the festival, Boonstock promoters say the event is still going ahead, starting Thursday night on a site on the Penticton Indian Reserve.

Earlier

“The Penticton Indian Band Council (“the Band”) held a special meeting today and has officially withdrawn their support and does not consent or condone the Boonstock event planned for July 31 to August 3, 2014 as a result of Boonstock not meeting the requirements of the Band.

Boonstock was informed by the Band to pursue a properly registered event in order to have their event held on Penticton Indian Reserve lands. This was to ensure that all the proper regulations were adhered to.

Councillor Kevin Gabriel, the Portfolio holder for Emergency and Safety Services, has said that the “health, safety and security of our community members must come first”. Without the deposit for the costs of the additional policing, we cannot place our community at risk. Nor should the Band be liable for the additional cost to police our community as a consequence of this “special event”.

Although the Penticton Indian Band supports business endeavours pursued by members of the community on their lands, so long as safety, security and health of the community are respected. The Penticton Indian Band has a fiduciary responsibility to protect the community members as well as to maintain the integrity of Penticton Indian Reserve lands.”