Hon Marlon A. Penn ponders lack of local participation in VI festivals
Hon Penn’s remarks were made during the hour and a half Straight Talk show on ZBVI 780 AM with host Donald E. de Castro on Wednesday September 14, 2016.
He, along with Senior Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), and Bishop John I. Cline were guests on the programme, with the topic of discussion being Emancipation Festival. An invitation was also extended to Kishma A. Baronville, Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), according to de Castro, but she was a no-show.
“The discussion needs to be centred on how we get back to our cultural identity, the way festival used to be. How can we ensure that we have more involvement among our people? One of the things I have noticed during the past couple of years is that lack of involvement in the communities. What is the reason for the lack of involvement?” Hon Penn queried.
Hon Penn reminisced on his younger days growing up when persons used to be more involved such as the fishermen with their own troupes. “They were a part of the process and we need to get back to why our people don’t feel a part of the process,” he pointed out.
VI history should be taught in schools
Hon Penn mentioned that some suggestions coming from a group, which he is a part of, feels that the history of the islands should be taught in schools and displayed during the festivities.
Meantime, in an open letter addressed to the Minister for Education and Culture, Hon Myron V. Walwyn, Mr de Castro said he raised several concerns that he had and also wished to share with the listening public.
They include: A more comprehensive celebration of the emancipation celebrations should be done on all the inhabited islands in the territory, including Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke in the form of a weekend of activities.
He also felt that the wide range of competitions taking place should be discontinued since it becomes more of a competition and the true meaning is lost.
“We need to get everybody involved and if expats want to participate in our festival I have no problems with that.” However, Mr de Castro said their troupes should reflect the Virgin Islands and its culture.
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15 Responses to “Hon Marlon A. Penn ponders lack of local participation in VI festivals”
We For That!
Well, when you catch the flight at the airport, stay where you land, and stop where you land. Don't come back. I tell you, as sure as the mangroves will stand, the Virgin Islands will stand and survive without you and all who think like you. Before you came, we were here, our parents and grand parents were here. They fended for themselves off the land, and when some got unruly in the place, they tasted some bull bud and board stick and found a corner and humbled themselves. So 100, we are more than 1,000 strong and we are peaceful but not afraid to stand up for ourselves when necessary. Some made a lot of green dollars here, an opportunity they never had before, then come cussing we. The winds of "feeling-yourself" blowing now, and guess, what, them showing them 'sh**ty b**tie.' Well, we don't want to smell it, so haul tail, scat, and leave our people and island how you met them.
One hand cant clap. We need you just as much as u need us.
And here your true colours show. Because we don’t want to participate we is this and that?
Thanks for giving us a place to come to and the opportunity at a better life ..BUT WE WORK THE JOBS YOU ARE TOO PROUD TO WORK.
Why don’t YOU humble yourself with your sense of entitlement. We don’t owe u anything, we pay for everything we get.
We even pay for what u don’t pay for, Visa, permits etc, So we in truth contribute more to the economy than YOU do
All'u quick to tell people to go back where u come from it they don’t lick your boots.
Your grandparents worked hard for what they built and your spoiled sense of entitled generation that followed thinks that everybody needs to be and your service.
we humble ourselves too, we stay quiet and go see our family during festival time. we let yall celebrate it how yall like.
This is not 60 yrs ago, the V.I needs expats. Look at festival, how was village? How was carrot bay? if we don’t help support the village who will?
the ferry to rock does get support though n it's not expats filling them up
More of there expats culture. So who is going to bring it back. ....further more when it's festival time most bvilanders travel the rest most of them stay home ,and the expats is the ones left to make it look like something. ..so it's not if the expats wants they always willing! !!!!!!!
Just sit there and complain and you will see who will be running this country in the next 20 years.
For sure it wont be the Smith, Penn of Potter etc. Wise up!!! or shut up!!!