Fraser’s festival hardship remarks were a ‘slap in the face’ — Parillon
Parillon
National Democratic Party (NDP) member and political hopeful Aaron Parillon described Deputy Premier Julian Fraser’s remarks linking Festival attendance to residents’ spending power as a “slap in the face” to people struggling with the cost of living.
Fraser made the comments in the House of Assembly during debate on adjustments to the electricity fuel subsidy for customers consuming more than 1,500 kilowatt-hours per month.
The Deputy Premier pointed to the large crowds at the recently concluded Emancipation Festival while responding to concerns about electricity costs and the financial pressure facing consumers.
“They’re going to the village having so much fun and expect the BVI Electricity Corporation to suffer when the money is out there. There is no shortage of money,” Fraser stated.
Fraser accused critics of “speaking through both sides of their mouth” and said the BVI Electricity Corporation had reported subsidising electricity by approximately $14 million annually.
The government has said the changes will directly affect fewer than 1,000 of the corporation’s 17,068 customers. However, Opposition members warned that affected businesses could pass the additional expense to consumers through higher prices.
Parillon, speaking during the NDP’s radio programme, argued that attendance at Festival events did not prove that residents were free from financial hardship. He said some families had budgeted to attend one event after facing difficult financial choices throughout the year.
“When I heard the statement, the word that came to my mind was privilege. And when you’re privileged as an individual, because something doesn’t affect you, it’s not a problem. But it’s a problem in the country,” Parillon stated.
He said residents continued to face rising supermarket prices, electricity bills and back-to-school expenses.
“So when you make those statements knowing the fact that you don’t really know what it feels like to stand up in a long line to pay your electricity bill, to go into a supermarket and see a price of a milk this month, and the price changed 25 cents the next month, it was reckless to make such a statement,” Parillon argued.
He described Fraser’s remarks as “very insensitive” to low-income workers and single-parent households.
“For me, it was a slap in the face to every single voter, every single resident of this country, every single struggling single parent mother, single parent home, every single person that works in some of these jobs with low income,” Parillon stated. “It was a slap in the face of all people. It was a real slap.”
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I agree with you Aron i took that personally to, who this man think he is well we will show he this trip with his privilege communist self
Let’s see how many times f them same wig wearing, fake eyelashes & designer wearing heads going be looking handouts (they should check you) to afford there utilities bills and back to school supplies for their children.
I don’t see it as privilege but more so of mixed up priorities that are asked a toll. Stop the pandering dude!
If Fraser made that statement as alleged, it is irresponsible. Not because people flocked to the Festival Village translate into financial independence. I know folks who went to the village and could not buy a drink or something to eat. People are struggling. I did not go to the village because I could’t afford it. I wanted to see Berris Hammond badly but had to pass. My electricity bill $278.13, house insurance $630, internet and cell phone $224, and 2 children to take care of. To keep up with the bills my supermarket budget suffers. I hardly have money left to buy food. Well, what I have left can’t buy much because of the high food prices. Priviledged don’t recognize hardship because they don’t experience it. Fraser can go to the supermarket and over load a cart, some of us have to be selective and buy the bare necessities. Maybe it is time for a change. These long term politicians have become too comfortable, so they forget being in a place of scarcity. This present government spends a lot of money but not to improve the lives of the residents of this territory. The money is spent to line their pockets and the pockets of the chosen few, while the masses suffer. Time for a change.
@ Bishop- the people who had no money to buy food or drinks made a poor life choice. The $40.00 they paid shouldn’t have been spent on a festival. Again Frazer is correct. People priorities are screwed up. If you don’t have money stay home.
Time to slap back
We need a sexual registry in the bvi
Tortola isn’t a real place cause you can be an educated adult. Then you decide to use your position to do nefarious deeds. Beat a court case cause the other jerk is the one with DNA evidence. Then decided i want to be an upstanding citizen smh. The day certain individual get elected I will know this a DEVIL worshipping society not christian.
Oh oh seems like Parillon mashed some corns here. Wig seems to be punching the wall every time he sees Aaron. You’re obsessed with Aaron or something?
VIP been worshipping the devil. Look at their new rings.
I too have been monitoring this circus. A registry is long overdue in this place! To be in a position of power as a teacher then knowingly use that position for “statutory” deeds, then case gets dropped because the minor had other encounters so DNA polluted. Then pushed to become popular amongst their peers. Like we’re all suppose to forget they can’t be trusted around our daughters and granddaughters. What would they do as an elected official? I’m not encouraging anyone to vote for Fraser either, but better the devil you know because the alternative in this situation is shocking! SMH.
I don’t think Fraser meant it maliciously, people need to PRIORITIZE and BUDGET during the summer. Personally I went Village all the free nights and the Paid nights I had to sit out because I have my Electric and Digicel bill to pay and I’m very stressed out about staying on top of it. Same way, some people just want to blow off steam from their stressful life or work so Festival is a getaway for them. Fraser should’ve worded it differently but I understand where he’s coming from if you have money to party you have money to keep food in your fridge and the lights on. Love Alone Aaron
Jump high, jump low, they’ll still put Fraser back in office. And that’s the crux of the problem.
People will be outraged for a few days, complain on talk shows and social media, and then turn around and vote for the same politicians.
What Fraser said comes across as disconnected from the reality many families face, but accountability starts at the ballot box. Too many voters seem comfortable with mediocrity and only demand change when an issue directly affects them or their family.
But we can’t keep complaining about insensitive remarks, rising costs, and poor leadership while rewarding the same behaviour every election cycle. If voters accept it, politicians will continue to believe there are no consequences for being out of touch.
There needs to be a stopper to keep people coming from STT and anywhere in the US to vote in the 3rd district. If they don’t live here they shouldn’t be voting here.
I done see them on FB complaining about their school children supplies. Fraser was 100% CORRECT. You had money to lime every night but crying about school supplies. Sometimes the truth stings but that’s Ok.
Fraser’s Festival argument wasn’t just clumsy. it was a fundamental misread of how ordinary people live. To point at crowded Village nights and declare “there is no shortage of money” is to confuse a moment of cultural release with a year of financial strain. Most residents budget tightly, pick events, and try to give their children a slice of joy in a hard season. That isn’t necessarily prosperity. Treating it as evidence of economic comfort trivializes the very pressures people have been shouting about, rising supermarket prices, heavier electricity bills, and back to school costs that hit like a hammer.
His claim that residents are “speaking from both sides of their mouth” because they celebrate culture while struggling financially collapses under basic scrutiny. Joy and hardship coexist as they always have. Parillon’s response lands because it calls out the privilege embedded in Fraser’s remark. It’s easy to mistake the glow of Festival lights for economic sunshine when you’re not the one standing in the supermarket aisle calculating whether milk went up again. In the end, Fraser’s comment wasn’t just insensitive; it revealed a troubling disconnect between leadership and lived reality.
All the festival i spent in Tortola the village always gets crowded when good acts are on stage. Fraser talking like a darn child, Cant believe veteran rep chatting such balooney in 2026. Come back to reality Sir. You are chatting pure hogwash coming out of Hog City.
fraser comments to me show that he is already senile, nobody with common sense would say something like that
If millions can be deposited in foreign business entities and the leader of the country does not know then festival village entry should be free like it used to be. Words are usually self-serving.
I glad Fraser said this.
Let the party animals them defend themselves
The rest of us who responsible for with money and self respect didn’t attend these vulgar activities at festival.
I remember a comment calling me broke just because I don’t agree with what festival promotes to us and the easily influenced youths (sex,under dress minors, gangs , violence, permiscuous, fights, drunkenness, fast life etc.
Well since I broke for not wanting to part take don’t say yah broke now after the politician Fraser states y’all not hurting from cost of living cuz y’all can clearly party hard even after several fights, two murders during these festive events y’all still attend. So don’t cry now about Fraser comments .
Don’t forget how y’all had big exciting debate on how many tickets were sold for festival and how many persons attended famous artists popcaan night compared to another night . Y’all was happily engaged in those conversations. So don’t cry now when Fraser call out all the party animals for attending these vulgar events despite complaining about cost of living clearly y’all priorities else where
I know a lot of people who just can’t do without partying so they would spend their last dime just to go despite having financial obligations. So yes Fraser comment correct in a sense but in anyoehr view you can’t base this on a whole population just because a small percent attended . Like myself did not attend and saved my money wisely and met any financial goals for the month and fulfilled my financial obligations faithfully. I see festival as a waste of time personally but I understand some people want to unwine and relax but I am sure we have plenty of options outside of that degenerate culture event. Beaches , bars, hiking, spas etc we have it all in paradise so don’t come crying to Fraser about you all wanting to just relax and unwind…you have plenty other ways to do so. I know some people even travelled to other countries during this time to relax. Face it y’all just love the degenerate behavior that comes with festival. The dunk minors , the fights , the kids throwing up gun and gang sings with their fingers, smoking, cheating on partners, dry humping dances etc
I glad the politician Fraser pointed it out it the same way we cry about gangs, drug’s and gun violence but we heavily promote and encouraging stuff that drives it! Someone got murdered during these events and two other incidents person’s fired a gun into a crowd of people and In stead we as a community come together and stop the parties to mourn and March against gun violence we continued partying…… Priorities mehson
Fraser catch aya young people good.. take blows
The same partying and degenerate stuff criminals love to attend.
Now that the politicians see we got money to party they quietly waited until things settle down not all of sudden news articles taking about electricity company raising prices of big businesses which will cause a trickle effect to consumers and trust me those prices won’t be going down at time soon if at all . Let’s see if y’all still got money to party for news years and lobster fest and festival next year…
If y’all truly serious about cost of living protest silently but not attending or contributing to any future party events. Maybe even organized a march but considering how uncivilized we behaved during festival that might be hard. Y’all couldn’t even party amongst yourselves properly and only ending up fighting each over and over smh I will never take advice from such people or even feel their negative view of my opinion would matter cuz they themselves don’t amount to much in their own environment. Pathetic.
Don’t attend Gospel Fest, don’t give money every Sunday at church for collections, don’t travel don’t do anything with money, just live your life paying bills.
The BVI doesn’t have reckless spending people. The people in this country prioritize their spending. GOVERNMENT however are the largest mismanaged spenders in this country.
Festival is the people’s opportunity to unwind for a bit in peace and harmony. The one or two bad a** kids with poor home development will make a ruckus but the majority come out to have a good time. Most parents can’t attend high festival costs but won’t let their child know this so the sacrifice is made.
Fraser haven’t attended one night in that village to make one comment about it. He is out of touch with the reality of this country because he don’t pay a bill.
Thats the best part cousin you dont have to attend gospel fest , you dont have to give money to the collection every sunday its called free will pastor dont get up force you to do any of those things
even better gospel fest so poorly attended and they still make it an option every year for freeeee no pressure no big money spending
not saying people cant enjoy themselves just do it more responsibly
look the community board fill with post crying about school book prices now….when yah check them profiles them same people got pics up from 2026 festival!! it blows my mind!
fraser is right! if the economy is so bad you shouldnt have any extra cash to spend recklessly but yall let them profit off yall ignorance and addiction to entertainment and rum.
PEOPLE PLEASING CAN BE IDOLATORY IN SOME INSTANCES.
How can he make this judgement about BVIslanders knowing that there were so many visitors who attended the celebrations on a nightly basis as well.
His comment was a slap in the face to the people who actually live in the BVI.
I for sure stay home and save that money because I knew school was opening and I had stuff to get for my child. People priorities to mixed up in this place. If you could afford by all means go ahead. But if you know you’re struggling why use the money to go out and lime and then come on fb complaining about school stuff for your kids. That same money y’all spent could vave gone towards y’all kids.
Just know that rape is a international crime again humanity
District 3 needs a change. But not with Aaron. We need a more experience rep. for 2027
Talk for yourself. That brother works hard for this district unlike them others that’s only good for spreading rumors and stealing from Government.
More experience my a**. Y’all currently have an experience a** as a district rep for more than 20 years and doing nothing for the people AT ALL. SO PLEASE, everyone is intimidated by Mr. Parillon.
EVERYONE. All those running and the Moomoo behind them.
They can’t stop calling around and telling people don’t support him. That’s weak.
They cant stop talking about him cause them like man.
Not a soul can stop what’s about to happen.
So,
the children whose mother, father, grannie and auntie saved their pocket change are to be blamed as well because those youngsters were at the village. Shame on those who didn’t spend those cents on a pencil…
Glass Houses
You know what we love most about Parillon, he’s one of the only persons ive seen this consistent representing his community and people. Year after year, month after month , day after day he’s active and showing up.
Thats where my family X is going.
You are defending this. It is due to amount of irresponsible people who making a cry out of this. You are trying to capitalize on that energy however if you support that sorts of thoughts you are weakening the people Vs building them up. Below is a comment I saw on Vino and it makes total sense. Honestly the truth hurts and it’s uncomfortable but it’s the true
Comment from a Vino blogger.
Hon. Frazer is correct. People’s priorities are out of order.
I’ve seen all the excuses. Festival is only a few days people save for it and so on.But let’s be honest The same people making those arguments are the same ones who have been at almost every jam since the beginning of the year, attended multiple poker runs in new outfits, gone to pop-up fetes including Xmas in July, and already probably ordered new outfits for upcoming events for example BoB.
People say, He’s pocket-watching, Festival is only a few days. But how much have people already spent on events in 2026? If another event came up, many would still find the money. The issue is priorities. I know people who didn’t attend Festival at all- Yes, they could’ve found $40 for the Village or $60 for food, but they chose not to. Having money doesn’t always mean you should spend it or can afford to spend it.
Meanwhile, some will spend $1,200+ on outfits and events but struggle to spend $300 on a water tank for basic needs.
This isn’t pocket-watching It’s about poor money management and misplaced priorities. We don’t just have a money problem—we have a priority problem. People find money for what they want, but not for what they need.
I was there, is natalio ask him to say that so that the people would sure do dislike Fraser so much that he can’t try a coupe and overthrow him, because natalio can leave on a trip and come back and find a no confidence vote set up against him, so he direct Fraser to suicide and he have wiggie standing by, and wiggie fabricating things that will make Fraser unpopular with the people.
The personal attacks on GRIME-A are ferocious…
Well it seems like his statements hitting home now since everyone bawling about their bills. Fraser’s out of touch and can’t bully my boy Grizzle, that man ain’t fraid of nobody and he got backative.
Anyone defending Fraser’s statement is a clown and is just as clueless. Because 2000-3000 people out of a population of about 30,000-40,000 people could afford to or decided to spend $50 on an event that’s held once per year, it’s not an indication that everyone can afford to pay a monthly increase in their light bill. You all stupid or something? Furthermore, a large portion of that crowd was from the USVI. You all continue to elect that clown for over 20 years then complain about not having the access to the basics such as running water, which he too is responsible for. This is his last go around though.
Look at em all crying on social media about their bill now. Tell Fraser go pay yall bill with his allowances his cheap a** Wa don’t spend a penny.
A bunch of momo in this place defending this washed distant career politician with no life.