Walters: Frustrations with pay and management caused me to resign
Dirk Walters, Events Manager at the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB), has publicly shared the reasons behind his sudden resignation from the Tourist Board.
During a recent interview on ZBVI radio, Walters expressed frustrations and challenges that led to his decision to step down.
Walters cited his compensation package after the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee (VIFFC), where he serves as Chairman, was placed under the BVITB as a significant factor. He also pointed to issues related to the BVITB’s management structure as influencing his decision.
The VIFFC Chair highlighted professional dissatisfaction and systemic issues within the BVITB. Walters emphasized the lack of proper structural set-up within the new organizational framework, stressing the need for a robust and autonomous body to manage the festival effectively, which he felt was lacking.
“I just found myself in a situation where it’s like, not to say too much right now, but you see the transitionary period, the whole thing that went on with the festival, and the structure as yet is not proper, and I’ve voiced my opinion,” Walters said. “I put it in writing. You can’t have something like this in place unless it’s a body that has autonomy and is run by persons who know what it takes.”
Poor decision-making?
He criticised the indecisiveness within the organisational leadership, which he believes led to inefficient decision-making. “Indecisiveness will always cost us all significant[ly],” Walters stated, adding that such uncertainty could waste time, money, and resources while also affecting the territory’s culture and festivals.
Regarding his compensation package, Walters said: “It has to be beneficial to me, meaning peace of mind and safety and security. Understand? So, when I received what I received, I’m like, ‘You want to be in a situation where you’re secure, correct?’ All of us. It was so. Things are not proper, so if things are not proper, [then], no animosity, no personal feelings, [or] anything, I will do what’s beneficial for myself and my family.”
Walters also explained that managing large-scale events with cultural significance to the BVI required determination, resilience, and a particular type of personality to handle various individuals and tasks.
His role as Festival Chair often extended beyond conventional managerial duties, encompassing various hands-on tasks essential for event success. “I’m everything from a groundsman, a messenger, a labourer… if a fence needs to move, a barricade needs to move, to manage a stage, if you need me to be a cashier, or if you need me to go outside and work security, whatever it is, I do,” Walters explained.
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Got put on the top shelf!
so he was no longer getting a second salary for doing one job so he spat the dummy and left the job. Money Money Money , thats all he cares about , not about the festival, just all the backhanders and favours he allegedly gained in the position which was taken away from him by the TOURIST BOARD
You forgot what you did to the guys that started extreme with you. You ***** all the ***** and never give any credit to the people who help you. Now you bawling. Brother man repent for all the alleged bad things you did and stop pointing fingers. Your not a nice person. What goes around comes around. You just want sympathy from the public.
Until you work there and speak on the bs going on in there. hush you mouth! From the director, finance and their clique. the back biting and victimization I miss working with Mr. Dirk he was one of the few who respected people he worked. Glad he followed me and left
I listened to this interview and found Mr. Walters to be honest at the same time respectful. Something lacking in leadership in this little town. House of Assembly often sounds like kids on the playground. He also used a word, AUTONOMY, that we discovered during the COI was a word not quite understood by leadership. He talked about all the things that were expected of him, all the hands on as well as decision making and follow up and carrying out those decisions. The fact that he expects to be compensated in like fashion does not seem extreme. In a town where school children ask you what your budget is, and volunteerism is on the wain, I don’t think wanting to be properly compensated for what you are doing or what is expected of you is selfish. Maybe he’s just not desperate. Could be we just aren’t ready for a Dirk Walters who speaks his truth publicly without fear of retribution. It was quite refreshing listening to him speak. But then again I’m not a hater, I just hate the game. I guess that’s not a norm here anymore. In all the talk about culture in this country we miss the fact that PRIDE was our culture and those enslaved people who had every right to fear retribution spoke their truth regardless of the outcome like flogging and starvation or hanging. We are so afraid these days that we write these comments and call ourselves everything except by our names.
Some names are taboo in this country. According to Lashing Dogs “Ground Lizard know wha he do to God Almighty so he caan look up.” BVI News is not that bad but others operate with venom. They will never publish the name or blogs of some locals. You are forced to operate under the radar making your contribution ineffective and rather meaningless. You must have some clue about the level of wickedness in these islands are you surprised by the blood sacrifice at the beginning of the Emancipation Festival I was wondering who the victim would be. Bob Marley’s “Chances Are” kept playing in my mind. Once you are in tune with the spiritual frequency it’s easy to feel certain things in the air. Anyway keep safe and continue to stay positive.
The executive bodies over the past years took on criticisms, disrespectful behaviors and character assassinations from many persons, including and especially Dirk. Anddddddd, unlike him, these executive members put their peace and reputation on the line for FREE. Not to mention that the budget that past bodies received to work with, was half of which he has to work with. My only hope is that during this entire process, he would be humble enough to admit that festival is not an easy task. It’s under budgeted and one sacrifices themselves for it. So moving forward, have a bit more respect and grace for those that volunteer their time, energy, peace and reputation.
in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic was much less complicated than the ‘live’ festival. Maybe have an annual virtual festival for 4 years and a ‘live’ festival once every 5 years.
Silly idea. Very silly idea. Computers have already taken over some people’s ability to think for themselves and to socialize. Think about how stupid it would be to celebrate our freedom virtually by watching on our cellphones while we are free of restrictions. The pandemic was a unique situation where we tried to make sugar out of $h!T. It shouldn’t be the blueprint for the future especially in the case of celebrating our freedom.
You want a man to provide his best and want him to do it for peanuts. This is basic BVI mentality. How the TB being operated right now is by similar like minded BVI ppl. Peanuts for a grand Fan Fare. Then they gon take all the credit and give you and hand shake and a pittance. Sir you did the right thing.