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EE/LL Festival likely to return to Greenland Field if stadium is built

- Stadium parking lot also an option- Hon. Marlon A. Penn
The East End/Long Look Emancipation Festival was previously held at Greenland Field before moving to Festival Ground. The activity is likely to return to Greenland Field once the proposed stadium is built. Photo: VINO/File
Eighth District Representative, Honourable Marlon A. Penn (2nd from right) told residents he is more in favour of the Greenland Field for the East End/Long Look Festival activities when the proposed stadium is built. Photo: VINO
Eighth District Representative, Honourable Marlon A. Penn (2nd from right) told residents he is more in favour of the Greenland Field for the East End/Long Look Festival activities when the proposed stadium is built. Photo: VINO
There was a sizeable turnout of residents at the community consultation meeting where the plans for the construction of the national stadium was discussed. Photo: VINO
There was a sizeable turnout of residents at the community consultation meeting where the plans for the construction of the national stadium was discussed. Photo: VINO
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering was also on hand to discuss the initiative with residents. Photo: VINO
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering was also on hand to discuss the initiative with residents. Photo: VINO
EAST END/LONG LOOK, Tortola, VI – With the disclosure of plans to have a stadium built at the Festival Ground in East End, questions have been raised as to where the Emancipation Festival Celebrations will be held when the sport facility is constructed.

So far there are two options, the first of which is the Greenland Field while the other is the stadium parking lot.

Representative for the Eighth District, Hon. Marlon A. Penn said, however, he prefers the idea of having the festival activities at the Greenland Field as opposed to the parking lot. He repeatedly made the statement during a public meeting on October 30, 2013 were they sought the blessings of the communities of East End and Long Look for the construction of the stadium as they eye substantial funding from the world governing body for football, FIFA.

"We are looking potentially for festival to go into the Greenland Field, which I think is the ideal spot for festivals on the field itself where it used to be...Which is really standard in many of the Caribbean countries when they have their festival, they are done on the playing field," Hon. Penn stated.

He recalled Emancipation Festival being held on the Greenland Field for many years.

In addition to the proposed locations for the festival activities, he said accommodation will be made available to the EE/LL Festival Committee to hold their meetings and funding raising activities at the stadium.

Justifying the potential spinoffs of the construction of the stadium, Hon. Penn said because there will be activities such as football on a regular basis the festival committee would be in a unique position to capitalise on fund raising opportunities.

"...you have a situation now where much activities are not going on in the area so no real need for them to have a concession going constantly….and constant economic activities will be going on in the area and it will create economic opportunities for festival and the other vendors in that space,” Hon. Penn stated.

The proposed stadium, which is said to be a public/private partnership development and will cost in the vicinity of some $3M, will comprise a 400 metre track, netball court, a standard football field, concession stands and over 200 parking spaces.

The construction will see a partnership between the Government, FIFA through the BVI Football Association (BVIFA), BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) and East End/Long Look District Council.

5 Responses to “EE/LL Festival likely to return to Greenland Field if stadium is built”

  • bage (04/11/2013, 10:03) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply

    Pure $h!te!

  • Anxious (04/11/2013, 11:23) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    So help me understand, the Government not to long ago spent monies to refurbished the Greenland field for the purposes of softball and a basketball court for family recreational activities. Now the representative for the district and the Minister of NR&L are proposing to have the festival activities go to that field? Le me first state that while I am in favor of the stadium, I am not in favor of the proposed location. There are some questions I as a resident of Greenland would like to pose to all concerned or am associated with this initiative. On what data is this stadium being proposed, otherwise stated where is the data, not ones intuition to support the construction of this stadium?. With the constructing of a new stadium on the festival village, has any thought been given to the added traffic flow in the area? The proposed parking areas for a project of this magnitude seems woefully inadequate. Will the concession stands be available for locals and at what percentage of locals vs non nationals? As it relates to the Greenland field, what is the proposed security initiative? As I am aware the Greenland field poses a high security risk, as there is one way in and one way out. Given the number of persons likely to converge on that small area on any given night of activity, the chances becomes highly ;likely that an incident can occur and one which can have detrimental consequences. Moreover, while I embrace the emancipation celebrations and wish for it to continue, Mr. Penn years ago when you would have remembered it being on the Greenland field, to the contrary, there were not as many dwelling or apartments in that close proximity and if it was moved to a more spacious location, it must have been moved for a reason. As a territory we continue to expand physically but in the midst of all of the physical expansions around the territory, we are seemingly failing to develop as a country. It is not everything that is presented as a gift is truly a gift. This entire initiative needs to be rethink and all of the alternatives put on the table and allow the people to assist with the best alternative. While we may have elected you guys to lead, we as a people are not asking you to do so without our input, it should be a partnership.
  • Release (04/11/2013, 12:07) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ha ha no one turning out to NDP meetings the writing is on the wall boss
  • more (04/11/2013, 16:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    just more blah blah blah blah
  • wallie (04/11/2013, 16:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Me son Marlon you just lost my vote.your grandfather have more sense than you and he is 75!!


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