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2018 VG Easter Festival kicks off with food fair

- Effects of hurricanes should not dampen spirits' - Premier Smith
Patrons were welcomed to the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Explosion by mocko jumbie dancers. Photo: VINO
One of the booths that catered for children at the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
One of the booths that catered for children at the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair saw support from persons within the community. Photo: VINO
Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair saw support from persons within the community. Photo: VINO
Honouable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, expressed that he was very pleased to see the arrangement of the field while encouraging everyone to not let the effects of the hurricane of September 2017 'dampen the spirits' of people. Photo: VINO
Honouable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, expressed that he was very pleased to see the arrangement of the field while encouraging everyone to not let the effects of the hurricane of September 2017 'dampen the spirits' of people. Photo: VINO
Honourable Julian Fraser RA, Third District Representative, enjoying food from one of the local booths at the VG Easter Festival Explosion Food Fair. Photo: VINO
Honourable Julian Fraser RA, Third District Representative, enjoying food from one of the local booths at the VG Easter Festival Explosion Food Fair. Photo: VINO
Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
CCT, telecommunication provider at the VG Easter Festival Explosion. Photo: VINO
CCT, telecommunication provider at the VG Easter Festival Explosion. Photo: VINO
Glennie A. Ferguson aka ‘Momma Africa’, whose booth mainly caters to vegetarians stated that she has been participating in the VG Festival for 2 years. Photo: VINO
Glennie A. Ferguson aka ‘Momma Africa’, whose booth mainly caters to vegetarians stated that she has been participating in the VG Festival for 2 years. Photo: VINO
Egg roll from the Guyanese booth at the VG Easter Festival Food Fair. Photo: VINO
Egg roll from the Guyanese booth at the VG Easter Festival Food Fair. Photo: VINO
Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL), Minister for Education and Culture, indicated that he would have preferred to have a bigger festival to celebrate the different parts of the culture and it also serves as an 'economic stimulus' for the community. Photo: VINO
Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL), Minister for Education and Culture, indicated that he would have preferred to have a bigger festival to celebrate the different parts of the culture and it also serves as an 'economic stimulus' for the community. Photo: VINO
Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
Kareem-Nelson Hull (left), owner of Sweet Tease along with members of his staff at the VG Easter Festival Explosion Food Fair. Photo: VINO
Kareem-Nelson Hull (left), owner of Sweet Tease along with members of his staff at the VG Easter Festival Explosion Food Fair. Photo: VINO
Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Food Fair on March 31, 2018. Photo: VINO
Owners of Wellness by Natural Means expressed that this is their first time participating in the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival. Photo: VINO
Owners of Wellness by Natural Means expressed that this is their first time participating in the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival. Photo: VINO
Students of the graduating Class of 2018 participating in the VG Easter Festival Explosion. Photo: VINO
Students of the graduating Class of 2018 participating in the VG Easter Festival Explosion. Photo: VINO
Curry chicken Guyanese style at the VG Easter Festival Food Fair. Photo: VINO
Curry chicken Guyanese style at the VG Easter Festival Food Fair. Photo: VINO
Trefor A. Grant, Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), commented that the Easter festival serves as a means to bring the communities and the people together regardless of their race, colour or ethnicity. Photo: VINO
Trefor A. Grant, Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), commented that the Easter festival serves as a means to bring the communities and the people together regardless of their race, colour or ethnicity. Photo: VINO
Dr The Honourable Hubert R. O’Neal, Ninth District Representative, stated that despite the difficult circumstances, he wishes for everyone to enjoy the events that are scheduled for the VG Easter Festival. Photo: VINO
Dr The Honourable Hubert R. O’Neal, Ninth District Representative, stated that despite the difficult circumstances, he wishes for everyone to enjoy the events that are scheduled for the VG Easter Festival. Photo: VINO
LITTLE DIX BAY, Virgin Gorda, VI - Despite the scale down, scores of persons came out to support the annual festival dubbed ‘Virgin Gorda Easter Explosion: 'Resilience, Unity and Culture on the Scene for VG Easter Explosion 2018’ held at the Little Dix Bay field on Virgin Gorda on March 31, 2018.

The Virgin Gorda Easter Festival kicked off with the traditional Cultural Food Fair and Kids Day which featured musical arrangements from Virgin Gorda’s very own local bands like Leon and the Hot Shots, Final Faze, It’s a Secret and Elvis White.

In addition, patrons were treated to delicious local dishes like fish and fungi, Johnny cake and chicken as well as a little taste of the other Caribbean Islands like jerk chicken from Jamaica to oil down from Grenada.

Meanwhile, local drinks like sorrel, passion, limeade, peanut punch and many more drinks were available to wet the appetite of patrons.

Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, expressed that he was very pleased to see the arrangement of the field, while encouraging everyone to not let the effects of the hurricane of September 2017 “dampen the spirits” of people.

“I am immensely pleased to be here. When I came this year and see the arrangement around the field its very, very good. I have been around the various booths observing and I can say what a very good variety. The effects of the hurricane should not dampen the spirits of persons who are here at this particular ground to enjoy the food fair. This actually seems like if it’s like a festival ground where all the activities can continue to happen,” while expressing thanks to the management of the Little Dix Bay for allowing them to use the field.

During his remarks, Dr The Honourable Hubert R. O’Neal, Ninth District Representative, stated that despite the difficult circumstances, he wishes for everyone to enjoy the events that are scheduled for the VG Easter Festival. “I am here to welcome you to this the Easter festival food fair for 2018. Be safe and enjoy

Bigger festival was preferred- Hon Walwyn

Meanwhile, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL), Minister for Education and Culture, indicated that he would have preferred to have a bigger festival to celebrate the different aspects the culture of the VI, noting that it would have served as an “economic stimulus” for the community.

He explained, “I would have preferred that because of two things in particular and not because we have gone through what we went through. We still have to celebrate the parts of our culture that was important and the festivities serve as an economic stimulus for the community and it will be a very good thing to be able to support the economy of VG by having people from Tortola and different parts of the Greater Virgin Islands to come across. So many persons came forward and said that they would prefer if we scaled it back and I accepted and respected that and so we have the festivities that we have here for the weekend,” while thanking persons who were involved in the preparation and those participating.

Trefor A. Grant, Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), commented that the Easter festival serves as a means to bring the communities and the people together regardless of their race, colour or ethnicity.

Booth owners show support despite scale down

In an exclusive interview with Glennie A. Ferguson aka ‘Momma Africa’, whose booth mainly caters to vegetarians, stated that she has been participating in the VG Festival for 2 years but has resided in the Territory for 30 years. She is originally from Grenada.

“It was a rough time during the hurricane but Jah is good and we all survived and I’m here strong as ever showing my support and things are just good.”

Speaking with another booth owner, who caters to the children by selling toys and sweet treats, commented that she has been participating in the VG Festival for many years and added that the scale down was not going to stop her from showing her support.

“It’s a scale down but I decided to come out and show my support. I’m hoping that persons just come out and support as the days go by,” said the booth owner.

A booth owner that caters to the Guyanese crowd indicated that the Virgin Islands has become her home, as she has been residing on Virgin Gorda for about 30 years and has always participated in the festival.

“This is my first year participating in the VG Festival but I have been around the other islands for 3 years. I decided to participate in the festival this year because there are people out there that need our help. Our business caters to helping persons to live well using natural means,” said the owner of Wellness by Natural Means, while adding that he did not have any challenges preparing for the festival.

The VG Easter Festival activities continue today, April 1, 2018, with the Honorable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE hat Parade from the Valley Methodist Church to St Mary’s Anglican Church beginning at 3:00 P.M. followed by a Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt at the Walters Recreation Park right after the hat parade.

8 Responses to “2018 VG Easter Festival kicks off with food fair”

  • @ @ @ @ (01/04/2018, 11:12) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
    Too much blah blah blah blah from them useless politicians
  • Nice! (01/04/2018, 11:19) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let’s keep striving from good to great. Let’s keep working from a potential of growth. So long there’s life, there is hope yet untold.
  • north sound (01/04/2018, 11:23) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Much be election around the Conner look burtee in the crowd
  • Hmm (01/04/2018, 14:45) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I think that we should move on from Irma. We remain in the same position. I am sorry for those who cant replace their roofs but it is not my fault that you did not insure your home. I want tourist to start coming again.
  • trrefdrfds (01/04/2018, 16:03) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    everything under Myron is dead from the college to carnival
  • How are we gonna (02/04/2018, 07:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Move forward when all we could think about is to be negative eveyday.Be positive people no matter what you may be going thru. Dont always stay at home and glue about not moving forward talk a stroll some where walk with God and as you go along taking in some breeze sunshine or rain ask God to open your eyes your heart or mind to the wonders He can bestored upon you to go forward and to enrich your lives and that of others. Stop glooming and stressing out and try manage the storm. Still hold the faith when nothing a gwaan.
  • wow (03/04/2018, 11:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Those bands at the food fair was horrible. final faze its a secret and Elvis white need to quit. I was bored af.


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