Grant decries division during festival

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee Trefor Grant has decried the atmosphere of cultural division experienced especially during the annual Emancipation Festival.

“The BVI is a multi-cultural community whether we want to admit it or not, and that’s just how it is. The persons who want to do the divisive stuff; that’s very unfortunate.”

Grant was responding to questions from journalists in relation to claims that patrons who attend the festival with their respective national flags are promoting segregation.

While stating that he believes in freedom of expression, Grant said certain actions affect the community spirit.

“Certain people have the right to express themselves; we are in a democratic society. Whether that does play into the whole community feeling – of course it has some effect on it. It’s unfortunate, but we try our best to try to bring the community together,” Grant said during a press conference put on by his committee on Tuesday to launch the 2017 Emancipation Festival.