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Kishma A. Baronville Out! Resigns as Chair of VI Festival Committee

Word reaching our newsroom is that Chairwoman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), Ms Kishma A. Baronville has tendered her resignation. Photo: VINO/File
The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee is responsible for the four festivals in the Territory: the Easter Festival on Virgin Gorda, and on Tortola- the East End, Road Town and Carrot Bay festivities during July and August. Photo: VINO/File
The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee is responsible for the four festivals in the Territory: the Easter Festival on Virgin Gorda, and on Tortola- the East End, Road Town and Carrot Bay festivities during July and August. Photo: VINO/File
In recent years the Virgin Islands festivals have been rocked by poor financial support, overspending, confusion in many of the sub-committees, alleged interference and micro management from the Minister and huge bills owing to vendors, particularly local performers. Photo: VINO/File
In recent years the Virgin Islands festivals have been rocked by poor financial support, overspending, confusion in many of the sub-committees, alleged interference and micro management from the Minister and huge bills owing to vendors, particularly local performers. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- In another slap in the face to the controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn, yet another person serving under him has fled the position.

This time it is Chairwoman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Ms Kishma A. Baronville. Information reaching our newsroom from our reliable senior National Democratic Party sources is that a few days ago the public officer, who works with the National Health Insurance (NHS) scheme, penned her letter of resignation to the Minister for Culture Hon Walwyn.

The reasons are unknown at this time, however, the source alleged, “while there are some personal things going on with her she was just tired of being harassed by people on the streets who the Festival Committee owes money…”

It was just last year that former Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee Marvin ‘MB’ Blyden refused to continue once his three year tenure had expired, even after reportedly being asked by Minister Walwyn to continue. This is even after Hon Walwyn on more than one occasion praised Mr Blyden for his work at the helm of the committee and for his “financial prudence.”

Ms Baronville was just appointed last year and has served less than half of her three year tenure.

“I am heading into a meeting and cannot speak [to you] at this time,” Ms Baronville said when contacted by our newsroom.

She also declined to comment or deny our information that she has resigned as Chairperson of the VIF&FC.

Meanwhile, just minutes before the publication of our story, another source informed our newsroom that Ms Baronville may have retracted her resignation. 

Efforts to reach Minister Walwyn for a comment were unsuccessful.

Virgin Islands News Online will keep you updated as more information comes in.

‘Festival going down too political’

In recent years the Virgin Islands festivals have been rocked by poor financial support, overspending, confusion in many of the sub-committees, alleged interference and micro management from the Minister and huge bills owing to vendors, particularly local performers.

The Virgin Islands festivals have become very political, with Ministers dictating who gets what and when. Those who serve on the committees are reportedly mostly friends and supporters of the political party in power, regardless of whether they have the talent or skills.

The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee is responsible for the four festivals in the territory: the Easter Festival on Virgin Gorda, and on Tortola- the East End, Road Town and Carrot Bay festivities during July and August.

47 Responses to “Kishma A. Baronville Out! Resigns as Chair of VI Festival Committee”

  • Nomination (09/03/2016, 15:16) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Deshawn wey yo dey
  • *Hmm (09/03/2016, 15:34) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    The reasons are unknown at this time, however, the source alleged, “while there are some personal things going on with her she was just tired of being harassed by people on the streets who the Festival Committee owes money…”

    & this is who they appointed head? As a leader you have to take the good & the bad. Some ppl want position but can't deal with it. It was very evident last yr the way she was dealing with persons
  • vip (09/03/2016, 15:38) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    THE NDP CHANGING FESTIVAL COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS AND ACCOUNTANT FASTER THAN DIAPERS
    • Yes (09/03/2016, 15:45) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
      accountant generals yo mean
    • No dawg (09/03/2016, 18:11) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      You ah ndp nuh, yuh think we dumb
      Yall just full ah yall selves mehn
      • Me (09/03/2016, 19:35) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
        it is very very easy, the BVI electorates have grown cognizant of the half truths and unfulfilled promises by both parties and did not want to suffer from Voters Remorse so they return the NDP to power. Next time the VIP needs to Give the masses something tangible to vote for
        • vip (10/03/2016, 06:37) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
          YOU ALL VOTE FOR SOMETHING TANGIBLE SO TAKE THAT AND STOP THE COMPLAINING!
      • That's a joke, right? (10/03/2016, 07:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        ....if you really write English like that, it's hardly surprising they think you are dumb...
  • Waow.... (09/03/2016, 15:39) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well.....she didn't last too long did she....
  • well my peace (09/03/2016, 15:40) Like (23) Dislike (4) Reply
    How she could go before paying who all she owe?
    • Don't be a fool (09/03/2016, 15:58) Like (12) Dislike (6) Reply
      Who does she owe?
      • same here (09/03/2016, 19:14) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
        Yeah, exactly who does she owe. I would not want anyone approaching me on the street about money issues either. That is so unprofessional and rude.
  • well saw (09/03/2016, 15:47) Like (27) Dislike (2) Reply
    Everything around Mark & Myron is a lie & a disaster & falling apart slowly but surely
    • Common Sense (09/03/2016, 18:14) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
      Only now the common sense hitting yall
      They gah aya brain wash mehboii
      It sad
    • rewrsdffds (09/03/2016, 19:56) Like (10) Dislike (20) Reply
      Poor Mark and Myron, everything they do to make things better you people have a problem with it. When you can't walk over a person/persons, they become public enemy #1. Mark and Myron you guys are doing a good job.
  • NDP stooge (09/03/2016, 15:57) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    I wonder who will be the new scapegoat?
  • Yes (09/03/2016, 15:57) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    When Myron took office he said that Festival wasn't been run properly & the days of over spending are gone...only thing he didn't explain was it gone further out of control under him.
    • @ lol (09/03/2016, 19:41) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      When no promise materializes ppl don't
      feel like staying around due to the feelings of being
      taken for granted & no personal uplittment
      to them, & they go around angry about crime
      & no jobs
  • civil servant (09/03/2016, 16:23) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ha ha he going blame vino for lies that he always tells
  • Just saying.... (09/03/2016, 16:43) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    We are in March, could have waited until after August.
  • insider (09/03/2016, 18:16) Like (25) Dislike (1) Reply
    Reason for her stepping down is to save face, all the other chair persons in the road town committee has resigned refusing to work with her. Parade, Food Fair and Road town Chairmen have all stepped down.
  • Hmm (09/03/2016, 18:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who they gon get next boii
  • Mardi Gras (09/03/2016, 19:12) Like (24) Dislike (3) Reply
    No Chairperson and we all the way in March, people ain't get paid for last year yet, no committee to raise funds, no Music Fest again this year, no Farmers'' Week, Huge Budget cut for V.G Festival this year, no V.G queen show this year, what else? Oh.. gov't brokes. You know what folks? Let's put off festival this year. Less stress all around if we do that!
    • @ Mardi Gras (10/03/2016, 08:46) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      What next, the college and students must provide consultancy
  • qc (09/03/2016, 19:28) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Treat voters with disregard, they will treat you with disregard - "Respect begets Respect".
  • Great! (09/03/2016, 21:25) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply

    Great news! Wasn't very pleasent! Doesn't know how to communicate with humans.

  • Faux (09/03/2016, 21:48) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    Her $&@ was too *£%# stuck up
    • M (10/03/2016, 09:52) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply

      Just because a person carry themselves in a professional manner mean that they are stuck up. You people here in the BVI think that if a person don't hold a conversation or they don't laugh and grin all the time the person is stuck up or a snob.

    • nope (13/03/2016, 15:08) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Not WAS, she IS!!
  • Just saying (09/03/2016, 22:07) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Everything is an issue when it comes to the NDP. They must be doing something good because you complainers elect them back in office. Don't blame NDP, blame yourselves. You complainers played yourselves or you are not capable of thinking for yourselves. Deal with it.
  • Bernie Sanders (10/03/2016, 02:20) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    And I Quote "You Have to Have Commonsense to run a Country not only Collage Sense" End of Quote..Cabinet approved to Fun a broke Airline 7 million and owe the poor Local Artist 7$$ and can't pay them...Why can't cabinet approve funs for the poor who elected them in June? I will lead this political revolution for the poor and middle class because we are been use and abuse and enough is enough...MVW get the people paid there will be consequences in 2019 ,mark Bernie Sanders words...

  • Pay we first (10/03/2016, 05:58) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This change is good. Its time we have this position out for bid.. Make it non Political.
  • No more women. (10/03/2016, 06:24) Like (4) Dislike (12) Reply
    That's what happen when you gave a woman or a girl a man's job. Let me pitch these 3 names. 1/ Maco. The Calypsonian. 2/Donelle from old Ecstacy. 3/ Author Selwood.. 4/Anhel from East End Committee. Any one of those is a great choice. People who will bring pride and passion to the position
    • no more retards (10/03/2016, 13:05) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      You are entitled to your own opinion, but one so stupid should have been kept to yourself. There are a number of things wrong with your post. Needless to say, stop typing foolishness on the people them site. A woman can do the same job if not a better job than a man in this position. What does being male or female has to do with being the head of the Festival Committee? Strupz at no more women
    • chad (10/03/2016, 13:30) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why don't you take a hard look at yourself you male chovonistical s...e. The H..l you mean a woman/girl to do a man's job. The days when a woman had to stand in front of a stove 24/7 barefoot and pregnant every six months is over buddy. I bet your chovonistical I don't have respect for a woman would love to see that.These days a woman can do anything a man can.
      • Woman's Lib (10/03/2016, 13:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Thanks @WOW for shutting that male Chovonist I'm stuck in the 20's women hater down.
  • liberal (10/03/2016, 10:26) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Look, if the Minister is man enough with balls, to get back some of the former chairmans like Frenche Gumbs, Cluadette Francis-Smith, Lavida Cottey, James Lettsome, Stuart Donovan, and a few others without having politics involve then forsure festival can have hope. What people and I have seen is politics is too much in the Festival. I know when Mrs. Parsons was an elected official she never push politics in the festival but allow the festival committee to handle it's affairs but give her advise to help guide them..
    • liberal (10/03/2016, 18:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      People may dislike the names but there must be one of the bunch who can get this festival back on some track. For example, this afternoon I learnt that James Lettsome was asked by farmers to put on the Farmers Fair Day last week Friday March 4th and that was a great event..
  • JOL (11/03/2016, 08:27) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ liberal you are so correct. In my days its was Frenche, Boopy, James, Lavida, Corrine (deceased) etc. We didnt have these kinds of problem. As bad as Ms Parson is she allowed the committee to do their thing and never involved politics. Frenche had his ways but he was the best and I can work with him any day. We had bills but nothing like now.
  • Well Sah (11/03/2016, 21:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Best decision made she was a waste of time.
  • W*F (12/03/2016, 09:46) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Kishma didn't bring anything to the table anyway. She is better gone.
  • Festival member (12/03/2016, 20:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the public know how James and Frenchie had the 2 larges working sub-committees which worked hard side by side.. Team effort was there then for festival and problem solving was done. We have to let our Minister of Culture to get these guys back on board.. As for James he turned around our Coney Island situation by having the collection done by Festival and not by the coney people, A plus on that for him
  • That's the problem (15/03/2016, 09:11) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    All you blaming her for owing people. Let her tell you what she told Standing Finance -- that she started off
    with a deficit budget -- Over 550K plus owing people for four festivals. All you think it easy. Let the Government take the blame. Don't blame Kishma. She had a right to resign. Fix in-house business first before they go blaming the woman. She meant well, but why take blame innocently. Let the Government fix its business first.
    • nope (15/03/2016, 17:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      It's a shame she couldn't handle the affairs but she has to go, she doesn't know how to talk and deal with people and she and some of them just ain't festival oriented...


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