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BVIF&FC under fire again!

- Virgin Gordians say they’re ready to fight for justice, fair play & democracy for being kept out of VI band selection
Contact was made with Mr Marvin ‘MB’ Blyden Chairman of the BVI Festivals and Fairs Committee who could not speak at the time as he was in a meeting overseas. Photo: VINO/File
Reigning Calypso Monarch Joycelyn M. Searles aka Sistah Joyce pplauded her colleagues in the music industry for the step they took in fighting for justice. Photo: VINO/File
Reigning Calypso Monarch Joycelyn M. Searles aka Sistah Joyce pplauded her colleagues in the music industry for the step they took in fighting for justice. Photo: VINO/File
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI – It is no strange cry of sister islands in the Virgin Islands especially Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke of being treated unfairly by government and associated bodies.

Today the residents of Virgin Gorda are saying “no more.” “Some of us may go down in this fight but they can’t cripple us all, WE ARE FIGHTING for justice, fair play and the right to be what our constitution says we are: Democratic,” said one resident.

As it relates to this issue this news site attempted to contact the Department of Culture but was put on hold for a lengthy time. Retries saw the phone ringing out. Contact was made with Mr Marvin ‘MB’ Blyden Chairman of the BVI Festivals and Fairs Committee who could not speak at the time as he was in a meeting overseas. Subsequent attempts to reach him failed.

The issue that pushed the residents to the brink was the process of selecting bands to perform at the St Thomas, USVI Carnival ‘BVI night’. While the situation has been resolved residents felt that it is worth being made known as there are too many things, especially injustices and wrongdoings that are being covered up.

Four bands were reportedly selected by the BVI Festivals and Fairs Committee; Showtime band, Vibe, Xtreme band and the Lashing Dogs.

“All those bands with the exception of lashing dogs virtually sound the same. As far as I am concern they could have taken two bands from VG and two from Tola and we go as one big happy BVI family,” claimed another.

“This is a BVI night and all the bands they selected were Tortola bands. Tortola is not the BVI, VG got bands! What message were they sending, our bands are not good enough?” lamented another.

The residents said when the list was published on Facebook the Committee came together and had a few persons lead the call for justice. “We called all around, high and low, the Minister for Culture, Premier Smith, Stewart Donovan, MB, every last one of them and they had to fix it because they would not have liked the outcome.” said a male band member.

They claimed that subsequent to the called and desperate lobbying the committee quickly included the band Final Faze which is made up primarily of Virgin Gordians.

The initial list was seen published early last week and this news site has confirmed with the leader of Final Faze Ms Miriam Mark that she was contacted on the evening of Friday April 4, 2014. “I wasn’t aware of an issue with the BVI night but I did get a call late Friday asking me how much it would cost to play at the St Thomas Carnival,” she told this news site.

As the issue surrounding their inclusion was related to Ms Mark she said, “I don’t know all of this and I am not going to get into that. We were selected on Friday and we will go and perform and represent the BVI, we are proud to be from Virgin Gorda none the less.”

Addressing the issue Reigning Calypso Monarch Joycelyn M. Searles aka Sistah Joyce was bold enough to comment on record. “If I was Final Faze and I had known that is how they decided to include me, me personally was not going to go but they are not me and I wouldn’t get mix up in that, I staying in my corner and do my thing,” she said.

She however applauded her colleagues in the music industry for the step they took in fighting for justice. “This is why I wrote the song wake up Virgin Gordians, this sort of thing happening for far too long and it’s time we take a stand against it.”

Another said, “There is this big rivalry that is developing, in fact it is at a serious stage right now with the youths from Tortola and the youths from Virgin Gorda every day we as parents getting the complaints and it’s time this stop.”

24 Responses to “BVIF&FC under fire again!”

  • Final Faze (08/04/2014, 08:55) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    is a very nice band they rock the village last year after parade
    • VG (08/04/2014, 11:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree. They rock . They will make VG and the BVI proud
    • @finalfaze (08/04/2014, 13:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      its hard core band played after the parade last year.. they were very good. i was there.
    • VG (08/04/2014, 14:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      let the record show that HARD CORE BAND out of vg performed last year after Parade until close. Thank you !
  • foxy (08/04/2014, 10:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mb and myron at it again
  • TOLIAN BORN (08/04/2014, 11:12) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    QUITO AND THE EDGE IS ONE OF THE BEST REGGAE BANDS IN THE VI. WHY ARE THEY NOT INCLUDED TO REPERSENT THE BVI IN ST. THOMAS . I KNOW IT'S CARNIVAL BUT REGGAE IT OUR CULTURE TOO !!!!!!
  • Ysh! (08/04/2014, 12:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Are we the tax payers paying St.Thomas to have a BVI night in their village? Or are they paying for our bands to play?
    • money (08/04/2014, 19:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      It's the Bvi paying. Our taxpayers' dollars an that includes taxpayers on the sister islands too including VG
  • vg massive (08/04/2014, 12:59) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    final faze is a tortola band... vg bands are session reloaded and hard core band... tola committee is bias.
  • Ridiculous (08/04/2014, 13:27) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    BVI nite in stt and u didnt select the calypso monarch systa joyce??? from VG.. tino soca monarch groovy from vg??? no vg band not 1???session reloaded?? hard core band?? leon and the hot shots???? please.. This is ridiculous.. y they treat we so dread???
  • vg massive (08/04/2014, 13:30) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    The VG committee should have been asked to select vg's best entertainment to be included... real talk. ayo tola committee think that the festival name tortola festival.. it name bvi festival.
  • AC 360 (08/04/2014, 13:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well may bouy
  • Final Faze (08/04/2014, 13:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Final Faze any time and anyway. They do have what it takes.
  • VG (08/04/2014, 14:55) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am in total agreement. I'm sure it was not done !!!! It should be looked into further because changes can be made.......calypso monarch joyce who won in vg and in tortola back to back is from vg....the first ever bvi soca monarch competition held in the bvi had two categories. Soca and groovy. Tino from vg won the bvi's groovy monarch title and he placed 1st for the other category which he should have won by the way..session, hard core, it's a secret , kenny /hot shots, etc are all from vg don't tell me because a band have a vg resident in it that means they are considered a vg band. NO WAY ! .Let me not get into the past winners...queen shereen flax...queen makisha..caribbean esctasy.We have more than enough artists and bands from vg who record every year with songs blowing up the air waves everyday not just when carnival comes around and they are fully capable to be included in the list to rep the bvi. UTTER NON SENSE !!
  • vg bias too (08/04/2014, 15:15) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    How many vg have jouvert and u all run wayyyy down the Caribbean to bring a band that is out of sync n now this issue come u bawling like babies . look pot calling the kettle black. Yall will be ok
  • Yes (08/04/2014, 15:16) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    they need to subtrack showtime from the list, after hearing them on Sunday, i was so shame, they dont should like the band that won an award. What happen to boss them, when you spoil a good thing, bad things does follow, you never respected the members that made you, but you took all the credit and now you sound like crap. If i was the festival committe i would take you out of the line up, going make the BVI look bad.
  • soooooo Right (08/04/2014, 15:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You're soooo right Sistah Joyce , but like you say it's not you...However, I totally agree with you because I wasn't going as NO last INVITE either.........but some folks are like that...they don't read between the lines (investigate things) or apply self respect in order to be respected....oh well...let them play on, and have fun!! It's Carnival!!
    This might be a lesson learned for the whole team/managers etc...
    • HOLd YOUR TONGUE (11/04/2014, 12:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      And so sad when people open their mouths in ignorance!
      I agree that more VG acts should be included. BUT Final Faze Band was called directly by the St.Thomas Carnival Committee since January 2014 to entertain in the St Thomas carnival village. I thought Sistah Joyce was not interested in spreading gossip and melee.' That update came straight from the St Thomas booking agent-that they called FFaze band two days after theyrocked the Beres Hammond show in St.John. If Sistah Joyce was hired to sing on that show, and another band was left out, would it have been alright?

      People know your facts before your make yourselves look foolish. Four of their band members are form VG, one from Anegada, and one from Tola....I am supporting them because they can do the job.
  • LAW (08/04/2014, 18:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fire is joke some of um need to be under invedtigation
  • Ak47/ tec 9 (08/04/2014, 19:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The time have come stop take VG for joke that's the past,present we reping our turf so bring it onnn Buoy!!!!!!!
  • virgin gorda (08/04/2014, 19:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Leave um
  • Ummmma (09/04/2014, 02:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Y'all be just fine
  • jus sayin (09/04/2014, 07:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    IT WOULD HAVE BEING GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THESE BAND IN THE VG PARADE!!!
    • trrefdrfds (09/04/2014, 15:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      the vg parade like every year is open to all and they all have been invited officially i understand. but who cant come because its too much hassle or cant fit in their costume etc is redic but the parade will happen regardless. a shame that so many coming from usvi to participate . #nuff said


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