BVI delegation’s attire at CARIFESTA sparks outrage
A Facebook post by political activist Cindy Rosan has triggered public outrage over the attire worn by the BVI delegation at the regional cultural showcase, CARIFESTA, with many questioning why the official territorial dress and colours were not used.
Videos and photos circulated online showed Virgin Islands delegates dressed in plaid outfits that some critics felt misrepresented the territory.
One social media user questioned whether the territorial colours had been changed without public notice. Rosan responded that no such announcement was made, alleging that the change was allowed without Cabinet approval.
“This is Luce abusing her power. Straight up. And the Premier letting her do it,” Rosan wrote.
Other commenters echoed the frustration. “I’m so confused! I kept thinking this was a throwback!” said one Facebook user, while another added: “Because WHAT WAS THAT.”
Questions also arose about whether the offices usually responsible for cultural representation had been bypassed, with some residents expressing disbelief that such a decision could have slipped past officials normally meticulous about protocol.
Community members lamented what they saw as a lack of territorial pride. “How do you end up down CARIFESTA representing us in something other than our territorial wear or fabric?! How?” Rosan asked in response to another commenter.
Others pointed to a broader issue of accountability and planning. “From the time I saw so much blue and Union Jack in the departure photos, my worry radar went up. Feels like we got blindsided. That happens when we don’t ask questions before the showdown,” one resident wrote.
Some even mistook the group for delegates from another country. “For a while there if the flag wasn’t up I thought it was St. Lucia or Dominica,” another commenter added.
The controversy has left many Virgin Islanders questioning who authorised the change and why national identity was not more prominently displayed at a regional cultural event intended to showcase Caribbean diversity.
The government has not yet issued a public response to the criticism.
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Our political party ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!!!
Does anybody really care. They look great, and so much better than the outfits worn for our tawdry festival.
BVISLANDERS CARE
this is why national treasures, monies, decisions, movements should always be in the hands of true locals.
Give room and board but never give away the property and authority
Don’t we have more pressing issues to discuss?
When folks ask, who are you? They ask because they cannot tell; they’re confused. Our attire should have pointed that out off the bat hey that’s BVI. Our identity matters, so too the other matters in our Territory. So yeah this is a big deal.
Gyal go rest yoself
I may be wrong but when I was younger this is what I remembered the heritage dancers wearing ……
The Heritage Dancers do, in fact, wear costumes that should not be mistaken for national attire.
Please read “ cultural Bearers “ post. I think that sums it all up.
“This is Luce abusing her power. Straight up. And the Premier letting her do it,”
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Come on. Come on! I cannot believe some folks are getting bent out of shape and making a mountain out of a mold hill based on the way these people are dressed.
This country has bigger fish to fry. This is absolutely ridiculous.
Don’t like what these people are wearing? Who cares. Keep it moving. Find something meaningful to do or talk about. My God.
Yeah ayo saying it have more important issues and we all agree. However; this is symptomatic of how these plebs be playing amateur games with this territory!
So, yeah; I wid Cindy in this one as it is indicative of how these losers wukkin’ up every 15/30 for big pay for little work!
The days of colonialism are over. The majority in the BVI are either fast asleep or too coward to stand up. Some of us need to stop nitpicking and stirring up silly conflict. Educate yourself to the global reality and take your rightful place. The level of awareness among us is much more cause for concern than people’s clothing. Oh dear they don’t look British enough….y’all have no shame or pride thinking that you are better than while being the joker in the pack.
It appears that most of the BVI does not know that madras is OUR cultural wear just like most of the Caribbean Islands.
The recent attire is the territorial wear and not our cultural wear.
Lack of knowledge is why we are losing our cultural.
While I agree that madras has been the traditional cultural wear throughout most of the Caribbean, most countries have adopted a particular colour combination as their own e.g Dominica, St. Lucia, Jamaica, USVI. When you see it, you know which country that person is representing.
I could remember BVI wearing this same color from way back since I was a child. This color is noting new to the BVI .
In other news, people vehicle tires getting puncture on the Paraquita Bay road from a stick out piece of steel. I don’t want to say the BVI because I haven’t been to the other islands, but Tortola is a muck. When it going get fix.
Some of us had to bathe with a gallon bottle of water this morning because water is off.
I couldn’t care less what they wear down Barbados.
Yeah and when Heritage led a protest to highlight the issues no of you cowards showed up. Continue to bath out of a bucket.
Not to worry, the $100 million loan soon tun lose; election right around the corner – 1 full year to spend that. They shutting down media houses through hush pay, clogging the media houses up. Hope people eyes wide open this time. Not another term with this muckery.
I’m no fashionista, but I think they look pretty cute.
Some of you need to go smoke some weed, take a shot of whisky or mamawamma, look some sex, here bitching over a costume.
If that is your response to a discussion about cultural representation then you are not equipped for this conversation. This is not just “complaining over a costume’—it is about national identity and respect that attire carries in public spaces. We all don’t even have to agree but these conversations are necessary. This is the only way we will grow as a territory,
Your comment oversimplifies the issue and dismisses the very real implications it carries. If that reflects the level of mental bandwidth you are choosing to operate on, that’s your prerogative—but don’t expect others to accommodate that mindset.
Who gat sense knows exactly what’s happening So please change the territorial song too. SMDH!!
BVI News why aren’t you not posting my reply..What there are no free speeches anymore
Why are these online news keep making Cindy relevant in this country ?. Cindy needs to go look a real job so she can pay her bills .
Stop wasting our time. They look great!
I think that print is from the USVI. One VI ?
Looks like we already Independent of the UK.
I am guessing that is the point.
Our Dictator Natalio has only one agenda.
OH MRS PERSON REST ON PEACE JUST RELAX WE GOT THIS WE GOING TO HANDLE LOOSE HODGE WHEN SHE LAND
Quick question through all this debacle!! Was thst not the USVI delegation dressed in their madras?as at the introduction parade the BVI and the USVI delegation were together!!( i stand to be corrected)
What is st. Thomas’ territorial cloth?
Actually i was impress to see that the delegates had some Decorum in how they represented the island. While the 5 million dollars is been laid under the table and no accountability for public funds let us get back to focusing and not let the Premier or anyone else distract us from the real matters.
Is the costume not a VI Madras? Or is there a specific fabric? I’d love to see our parade dressed like this!