Official festival lineup released
BVI News Staff - Friday, June 22nd, 2012 at 8:19 AM
Public Relations Officer of the Festival Committee Rhodni Skelton addressing the media at yesterday's press conference.
International artistes Junior Reid, Benjai, Skinny Fabulous, Lil Rick, Kerwin Dubois, Movado, Destra, Barrington Levy, WCK, Kassav, Vegas, and Christopher Martin will be headline performances as the official 2012 festival line-up and activities were revealed at a press conference yesterday.
Minister for Education and Culture Myron Walwyn congratulated Chairman of the Festival Committee Marvin Blyden and his team for the work they have done in meeting the mandate given to them.
Walwun announced at the press conference that the Festival Committee has been replaced in the hands of the Department of Culture and that the committee will be operational year-round, and not just months prior to the event. He also noted that he expects the same amount of planning and emphasis for the Virgin Gorda festival as the August Festival.
Walwyn said he has asked the committee to make local talent prominent at the village. He said he understands that international entertainers must be invited but maintained that he still want locals to be prominent.
“In 2014, we will be celebrating 60 and the anniversary committee knows that must be an event to bring home Virgin Islanders,” the minister stated.
Acting Director of Culture Brenda Lettsome-Tye thanked Minister Walwyn for replacing festival in the realm of culture, saying it is important that people never forget that the celebration is about emancipation from slavery, which must be remembered with pride.
Lettsome-Tye asked those in the parade to depict the territory’s culture. She noted that there are many areas of Virgin Islands culture that can be examined and hopes that this year’s troupes and floats showcase this. She also mentioned that several schools were invited to participate in the event.
It was noted that much is planned to promote the territory’s culture at the event and stated that the village will have cultural exhibits during lunchtime period for those who choose to have lunch at the village to enjoy.
Malcia Smith-Hamilton, acting director of the Tourist Board, said 4,000 or more visitors travel to the territory during emancipation according to DPU statistics. She thanked the committee for including the Tourist Board from the beginning. She said they are going to hit the ground running now that the line-up has been released.
“The marketing initiative continues, we will be stepping up our social media campaign,” she said.
Festival Committee Chair Marvin Blyden said his Committee has been meeting regularly and has worked diligently to cut cost and raise funds with creative fundraisers which began with a boat ride.
Blyden said the committee plans to publish its financial statement by the end of September and admonished all to hold him accountable for that. Blyden said his committee is striving to return pride and integrity to the committee which had been lost in years gone.
Public Relations Officer of the Committee Rhodni Skelton said this year will have new and revamped events such as a power boat race, a peas and rice competition and a steel band event. It was also disclosed that the winner of the Miss BVI and Calypso competition will both receive cars as their prize.
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How could you’ll have a line up and didn’t hire poizon out of St. Thomas… I done c the same thing what happened with St.John festival is going to happen where the village was bycot from the St.thomians… Remember back in the days where nick Friday use to say no jam band no carnival, well right now it’s no poizon no carnival… Trust me on that
So what’s the line up for the Gospel nite (opening nite)
The rides last year were nicer than anyother one we had and that’s a sign of improvement
so what yall saying is u want to be bored as hell at the line up, broke or no broke the show must go on.. lol
And yet, the country has no money but are able to import 12 international artists for 45mins of entertainment each.
we’re doing damn good for a broke country…why did the ndp lied to us?
Would you all hsve preferred there was no festival then? The country must find funding some place for our yearly festival. Because they found money to put on festival does not mean there is money flowing in our country…the country is indeed broke..
I hope that you all get new and improved rides for the kidss and even adults… its boring seeing the same old rides each year. and Tourist board or dept of cultureshould have a stall in the yard in the back where the rides are also… so that people can walk behind and see elements of the culture of the bvi… perhaps each night depict a different element… but it needs not be just a smalll little boot but something massive… THIS IS WAT THE VILLAGE SHUD BE ABOUT
Why, put the local cultural booth behind? It should be out front and very prominent for all entering and exiting to see, not tucked away in some dark corner in the back.
Almost too good to be true. I really hope this is AWESOME!!!
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