Marvin ‘MB’ Blyden Out! Kishma A. Baronville In! as Festival Chair
Mr Blyden, who was appointed in 2012 by the NDP Government, will be replaced by Ms Kishma A. Baronville, who is an employee of the Social Security Board in the National Health Insurance Unit.
According to two persons close to the situation, there were conflicting reports as to why the Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn took the decision. One source claimed that Mr Walwyn wanted a less controversial figure at the helm of the VIF&FC going into an election year, while another credible source told our news room that Mr Blyden was asked to stay on but refused to under the current Minister.
In any case, Kishma A. Baronville who also served on the Festival Committee as Sub Committee Chairwomen for the Road Town Festival is tipped to be the new festival boss effective this month, according to information obtained by this news site.
Mr Blyden has already been asked to turn over all books and cheques to the Ministry of Education and Culture.
‘MB’ a rocky tenure
Mr Blyden had a rocky three years at the helm of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee. He often complained both publicly and privately that the Committee was under-funded. Privately, he complained about the micro management of the Minister for Culture, Hon Walwyn.
In his first Festival and Fairs Report brought to the House of Assembly, he threw many of his members under the bus, calling outright for some of them to be replaced, including Honourable Alvera Maduro- Caines as Chairwoman of the Prince and Princess Show Committee.
Last year he stirred-up more controversy when at the 60th anniversary celebration of festival there was a tie for Road March champion between Showtime band and VIBES in terms of points. Mr Blyden sided with VIBE, which led to an avalanche of criticism of bias and calls from Showtime band head Eustace ‘Boss’ Freeman for him to resign.
In addition, many of the local bands and artistes complained over the past three years of not being paid, or paid on time while foreign performers are paid almost immediately while receiving deposits before they arrive in the Virgin Islands.
Mr Bylden, in his festival report of 2013 blasted the BVI Tourist Board saying that they were “useless” in the promotion of festivals and did not live up to expectations. This caused the BVI Tourist Board Director Sharon Flax-Mars to hit back, calling his claims baseless.
His controversial tenure also saw a flare-up over the quality of car for a former Miss BVI and threats to pull a car from the already announced prize of another.
It was not all bad for Mr Blyden, however, as many have praised the outgoing Chairman for prudent financial management and for calling out the challenges like he saw them.
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57 Responses to “Marvin ‘MB’ Blyden Out! Kishma A. Baronville In! as Festival Chair”
need to know how to talk to people and get down off their high horse. I done see problems in the committee if they dont change their attitude and stop down talking people.
All the best as this is no easy task, especially with election around the corner.
They need get rid of the Chairman of Miss BVI next
Nonsence all the committee members from road town including me will go
I hope that S@mul girl go as well. She is just as bias as MB...
Dem say dem beg he to stay but he said NO…no one wants to work with that Antigua bully
Congrats Kishma you will do well. Myron is a good man but he takes advise from his friends like Ms BVIT...and he ends up in hot water.
Kishma is by far one of the most over rated individuals in our society. I am speaking of having worked and taken classes with her. Why she left the private sector......i'll provide the answer in another forum....Poor move by the ministry..
she used the right form though... who is the dumb @$$ now?
If the press is bullied from its role, the populace is in the dark and democracy is doomed.
Thanks for taking on this fight.
Classmate 1976