Chafee says tree lighting will happen, calls cancellation a "mis - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

Chafee says tree lighting will happen, calls cancellation a "miscommunication

It turns out that a tree lighting ceremony will be held at the statehouse after all.

One day after there was an uproar over canceling the holiday tradition, Governor Chafee says it was all just a misunderstanding.

Governor Chafee says that there was always going to be a lighting ceremony for the state holiday tree and that it was a simple miscommunication between him and his staff, that led to the confusion over whether or not the lighting ceremony would happen.

On Monday, the governor's office released a statement saying  there would be no tree lighting ceremony this year, to avoid re-igniting last year's Christmas tree verses holiday tree controversy.

On Tuesday though there was a very different message, coming from Governor Chafee.
 
"It should be lit-up, the tree should be lit, lets get it lit." said Chafee.

The governor was in France on a trade mission, when the statement came out about canceling the ceremony.

Governor Chafee says that a miscommunication between him and his staff, led to the wrong statement getting out.

"I was out of town, doing the people's business looking after a Rhode Island company, and that's what really happened. We were just finishing with Thanksgiving and we hadn't had a chance to focus on what was going to happen." said Chafee.