The Virgin Gorda Easter Parade on April 6, 2015 was delayed for hours beyond the scheduled start of 12pm. Photo: VINO

Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Committee's Public Relations Officer Mr Jerrel A. George said the late start to the Virgin Gorda Easter Parade on April 6, 2015 was due to a floored electrical cable and the late arrival of troupes from Tortola. Photo: VINO/File

While many persons indicated that they enjoyed the parade, eventually, others complained that many persons who had turned up early for the parade left, including persons from Tortola and St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Others waited, but in disgust. Photo: VINO

Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), seen here with VIP President Carvin Malone, and Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) at the Virgin Gorda Easter Parade on April 6, 2015 had said that the issue of a timely start to the parade needed to be addressed. Photo: VINO

The parade, which is usually one of the highlights of the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival, did not move off this year until nearly three hours after the scheduled time.

While many persons indicated that they enjoyed the parade, eventually, others complained that many persons who had turned up early for the parade left, including persons from Tortola and St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Others waited, but in disgust.

Safety first

"Yes we didn't start on time but what many persons did not know was the fact that one of the big trucks had gotten entangled with an electrical cable and we had to call out Fire and Rescue and wait for BVIEC to come out. We had to ensure that the route was safe," Mr George told Virgin Islands News Online.

The PRO said the power line that was downed ignited a bushfire.

This was also confirmed by Fire Chief Mr Zebalon A. McLean who said it was a little fire that was stomped out by an officer.

George said consequent of that incident they were not going to start the parade without ensuring the entire route was safe. "We had to then make sure that the entire route had no power lines that would have posed any further problem and that consumed some time."

He said the delay was in no way affected by the late release of funds to the committee though he couldn't say ‎if all the money budgeted was released to the committee.

It was noted by George that there was also the challenge of waiting for troupes from Tortola and positioning a number of troupes where they would have been in the hearing of music as not all troupes were able to secure music sets.

Mr George concluded that the committee has already identified a possible solution to the problem of the late start as he said they are considering shifting the event to a later time of the day and substituting the earlier part of the day with some other activity.

Virgin Islands Party Chairman Hon Julian Fraser RA had pointed out that the issue of a timely start to the parade needed to be addressed.

“They have to begin earlier to the starting time given so that people don’t have to leave, because I know some people have some rigid schedules. Some people I know had to leave for Tortola and missed parts of the parade, but I think that is a matter for the Festival Committee to decide how they want to better the festival,” Hon Fraser told Virgin Islands News Online while at the parade.