UPDATE: Blyden stands by VIF&F report; no resignation by Skelton
Meanwhile, there has been no resignation from Mr Skelton and when contacted for a comment he said he was going to address the issue in "due course".
One of the areas highlighted as a major issue for the 2012 Festival in its report laid in the HOA on November 25, 2012 by Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn was in the area of marketing. The Public Relations Officer was Rhodni Skelton, who is also the son of Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton.
In the report, the committee blasted the public relations officer and listed his role as a major challenge and disappointment. The report stated that, “the marketing for Festival 2012 was disappointing. The Public Relations Officer was not always available to discuss matters and at time when things were brought to his attention little or nothing was done.”
Mr Skelton, in a press statement, said he was extremely disappointed, angry, shocked and blindsided by the recent media editorials, quoting the VI F&FC report as stating that he was "not always available to discuss matters and did little or nothing at times when things were brought to his attention."
The PRO had also stated he had since privately spoken to the Chairman and expressed his disappointment and has asked him to "right this wrong". He had also said he was now publicly calling on his Chairman to either stand behind his report or adjust it.
"If, however, the Chairman sees it fit to adjust his report with regards to my performance, and make a public statement to this effect, then I will gladly and proudly continue to serve as PRO of the Festival & Fairs Committee until the end of my appointment," Mr Skelton had stated.
Mr Blyden, however, has said he will stand by his report neither will he be pressured into tendering his resignation as Chairman. He noted that the report could not be changed as it was already a public document.
See previous story posted on subject:
UPDATE: I performed exceptionally as PRO- Rhodni Skelton
- Threatens to resign if VIF&F Chairman does not adjust statement
"If the Chairman stands behind his report and continues to feel that my performance was sub-par, then I will immediately resign my post with nothing but gratitude for this second opportunity to serve the BVI in this capacity, and allow someone else the opportunity to have this honor."
One of the areas highlighted as a major issue for the 2012 Festival was in the area of marketing. The Public Relations Officer was Rhodni Skelton, who is also the son of Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton.
In the 2012 VIF&F report, the committee blasted the public relations officer and listed his role as a major challenge and disappointment. The report stated that, “the marketing for Festival 2012 was disappointing. The Public Relations Officer was not always available to discuss matters and at time when things were brought to his attention little or nothing was done.”
According to Mr Skelton, it goes without saying that he was extremely disappointed, angry, shocked and blindsided by the recent media editorials, quoting the VI F&FC report as stating that he was "not always available to discuss matters and did little or nothing at times when things were brought to his attention."
These were some of the words in a statement by Public Relations Officer of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&F) Rhodni Skelton to a recent scathing report about his performance by Chairman of the VIF&F, Marvin Blyden.
The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&F) 2012 annual report was laid in the House of Assembly on November 15, 2012 by Culture Minister Myron V. Walwyn at the Fourth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly (HOA) of the Virgin Islands.
One of the areas highlighted as a major issue for the 2012 Festival was in the area of marketing. The Public Relations Officer was Rhodni Skelton, who is also the son of Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton.
In the 2012 VIF&F report, the committee blasted the public relations officer and listed his role as a major challenge and disappointment. The report stated that, “the marketing for Festival 2012 was disappointing. The Public Relations Officer was not always available to discuss matters and at time when things were brought to his attention little or nothing was done.”
According to Mr Skelton, it goes without saying that he was extremely disappointed, angry, shocked and blindsided by the recent media editorials, quoting the VI F&FC report as stating that he was "not always available to discuss matters and did little or nothing at times when things were brought to his attention."
"At no point in time did the Chairman or the Ag. Director of Culture, or any member of the Executive Committee, express any displeasure in how executed my role as PRO. We met regularly, emailed and phoned each other on an almost daily basis and enjoyed a great relationship from the date of my appointment to the writing of this response. There were ample opportunities, almost daily, for the Chairman or the Ag. Director of Culture, to communicate to me that they were displeased with my performance. However this did not happen," Mr Skelton stated.
On the contrary, the PRO continued, "the Chairman always said that I was "his right hand man" or that he wasn't "doing anything without his PRO" or "Rhodni I don't know how I would get a lot of these things done without you". Again, I am completely in shock to learn that the report singled me out individually and specifically as being an area of concern or a challenge for the Committee. Why didn't the Chairman speak to me directly about the concerns that he had, instead of sneaking them into a report that many Executive Committee members did not see prior to submission, including myself?"
The report went on to say that “there was no clear plan from the BVI Tourist Board who also assisted with the publicity for Festival. There seemed to be some disconnect and subsequently, the Festival itself suffered from lack of publicity. More could have been done.”
According to Mr Skelton, it must be noted, and he wants to make it very clear, that his job as PRO was not to market or advertise the Festival(s)! "Again, the marketing and promotion of the Festivals is not the responsibility of the PRO! That was the responsibility of the BVI Tourist Board, who had its own representative on the Committee. My appointment to PRO was not because of my employment with the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission."
The PRO's job, Mr Skelton said, consists of bridging the gap between the Committee and public with regards to the initiatives of the Committee. This includes preparing Press Releases, Press Conferences, Media Updates, Community Bulletin Board announcements, review of any information being sent to the public from the Committee among other things.
"As the PRO, I prepared and sent out over 30 Press Releases from the date of my appointment to today. A huge majority, if not all of these press releases, were featured on all of our local media including newspapers, online news, radio stations and television broadcasters. One would merely need to go to any of our four main online news sites and type in my name in the search bar and the large amount of press releases, interviews, public service announcements, etc that I sent out will pop up."
Further, Mr Skelton said he organized and hosted two Press Conferences on behalf of the Committee including the major initial Press Conference where the VI F&FC 2012 Festival and its honoree (Claudette "Boopie" Francis) was launched. "As PRO, I also hosted, as the Master of Ceremonies, the opening of the 2012 Claudette "Boopie" Francis Festiville on stage, in the Village."
He added that he attended at least 70-80% of the Executive Committee's regular meetings, and on the occasions that he could not attend a particular meeting, due him being out of the country or due to his regular paid job obligations, he always made sure to contact the Ag. Director of Culture the next day to find out what information needed to go out to the public.
"So although I may not have been physically present at the meeting, I was still able to keep the public aware of what we were doing. As such, I am completely shocked at the report stating that I was not always available to discuss matters! The Chairman and I spoke almost daily and if a day went by and we did not hear from each other, we would jokingly call each other to ask if "we fell out"...I am confident that not only did I execute my office at the highest level, but that I also went above and beyond as a key member of the Committee."
The PRO also listed many things that he claimed he did and which were above and beyond the role of the PRO.
He noted that he accompanied the Chairman to three separate meetings with the RVIPF to try to work out the concerns of the F&F Committee and the Police. One such meeting featured the Ag. Commissioner of Police, the Chairman of VI F&F and myself.
Mr Skelton claimed that no other committee member was present during the preparations of the very successful Festival Boat Ride except for the Chairman and himself. "Not only did I assist the Chairman in arranging the logistics of the boat ride, but I also sold tickets at the horse races that day and highly promoted the event doing live interviews at the horse races. I also hustled the sales of tickets on the Road Town ferry dock leading up to the boat ride's departure. During the boat ride I immediately jumped in behind the bar and began serving drinks to the huge crowd all night. When the boat ride was over, and all of the patrons got off of the boat, around 12:30 A.M., I stayed behind until almost 3 A.M. am at Fish Bay, breaking down the bar, helping with removing equipment and cleaning and sweeping every inch of the barge. No other Executive Committee member was there besides the Chairman and myself."
During the Festival Fund-raiser Fish Fry, Mr Skelton said it was only himself, the Chairman and "Frenchie" Gumbs who were there cleaning out the two moldy and extremely dirty booths.
"This very evening I had the unfortunate luck of having my entire apartment burned down and I lost almost everything, while helping out at the Festival Committee's Fund-raiser! Ironically, the Festival and Fairs Committee, aside from a few looks of shock, offered no assistance or relief to me after learning of my tragedy. Meanwhile I continued to eagerly assist where I could and execute my office as PRO. To this day, the Chairman nor the Committee offered even the slightest assistance to me after this disaster as a common courtesy."
Mr Skelton stated that he has privately spoken to the Chairman and expressed his disappointment and has asked him to "right this wrong". He said he was now publicly calling on his Chairman to either stand behind his report or adjust it.
"If, however, the Chairman sees it fit to adjust his report with regards to my performance, and make a public statement to this effect, then I will gladly and proudly continue to serve as PRO of the Festival & Fairs Committee until the end of my appointment," Mr Skelton stated.
See original story posted on this subject:
2012 Festival Marketing was disappointing- VIF&F report
- Funding, calypso show and bad practice were major challenges of this year’s festival
While the 2012 Festival activities continue to receive mixed reviews from the public, the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee’s own annual report made some scathing conclusion on the many challenges faced.
Marketing disappointing
One of the areas highlighted as a major issue for the 2012 Festival was in the area of marketing. The Public Relations Officer was Rhodni Skelton, who is also the son of Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton.
In the 2012 VIF&F report, the committee blasted the public relations officer and listed his role as a major challenge and disappointment.
The report stated that, “the marketing for Festival 2012 was disappointing. The Public Relations Officer was not always available to discuss matters and at time when things were brought to his attention little or nothing was done.”
The report went on to say that “there was no clear plan from the BVI Tourist Board who also assisted with the publicity for Festival. There seemed to be some disconnect and subsequently, the Festival itself suffered from lack of publicity. More could have been done.”
The report requested that “a better plan needs to be implemented to attract visitors to our festivals.”
The Chairman of the 2012 VI Festival and Fairs Committee is Marvin Blyden.
Calypso Show and Calypsonians
Another controversial area of this year’s Festival activities on Tortola was the Calypso show. The Calysponians created and signed a petition and went directly to the Minister for Education and Culture according to the report. This resulted in the “process having to be reduced to one song at one show… a huge disappointment.”
The reported stated that the Tortola Calypso Show came off in the end, “but not without some damage to the integrity of the show and the reigning Monarch, …. does not seem to understand it.”
The Calypso show was, according to the report, “a major loss to the VI Festival and Fairs Committee and measures need to be put in place to not have this behavior repeated,” the reported lamented.
The 2012 Calypso Monarch is Luther B who has retained his third consecutive crown. This year’s winning song was entitled 'Legacy'.
Funding Cut and hostility from businesses and vendors
Another challenge for the VIF&F Committee, according to their 2012 report, was that of funding. The report said that “this year funding for Festival was cut and the committee was expected to do more with less as a result, “it did put a strain on the Committee.”
The reported also revealed that “the VI Festival and Fairs Committee encountered hostility and sometimes disrespect from businesses and vendors in the community because of the bad relationships created by previous festival committees and the fact that it took almost a year for some to be paid.”
The report also spoke to what they described as “bad practice”. One example listed in the report as bad practice, “appeared in the form of a vendor who gave a quote for a job of one price, but when the bill came in, added numbers of items to the quote”. The report did not name the vendor.
Outstanding issues
The 2012 VIF&F report wrote that they have “inherited a bill from Nibbs Auto Sales and Parts regarding a vehicle which was rented on behalf of the Festival and Fairs Committee in 2010 and destroyed.”
The report stated that this matter remains unresolved and needs to be investigated as it continues to impact the integrity of the Committee. The reported stated that “the VIF&F Committee does not have any funds to pay this bill.”
Major Achievements
It was not all negative in report, however, as the VIF&F Committee claimed that most 2012 events started on time.
They also had high praises for the Miss BVI 2012 Pageant which the report described as “a tremendous success. It was a show of quality and was efficiently managed.” It was said in the report that this year for the first time, contracts outlining expectation between Miss BVI contestants and subsequently Miss BVI and the VIF&F Committee were signed.
The 2012/2013 Miss BVI is 21-year-old Sharie de Castro. For the first time in many years the Virgin Islands is represented by an indigenous Virgin Islander wearing the crown of Miss BVI and further it was a show were everyone agreed with the judges decision that Ms. de Castro won the prestigious crown hands down!
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65 Responses to “UPDATE: Blyden stands by VIF&F report; no resignation by Skelton”
Anyone who thinks the Music Fest was a success could not have gone to it. In addition, while they said all it would cost Tax payers is 150,000 to 200,000 the government ended up paying d man $400,000. When will this little country ever learn.
You remove people who are successful and replace them with money grabbers trying a ting.
What success has Rhodni had with the film commission???
Bad minded people in this place. even now he have some kind of workshop going with the kids for the film thing. I know I see a lot of stuff with him and the Film thing even on this very site. The boy does good with the things he does and he never up under he father.
So give Jack he jacket and stop belittling your people.
Music Fest was a mess and poorly organized nobody really showed up or paid and somebody said gov't paid 400,000??? Was up did dat?
BRING SOME GREAT CALYPSO BANDS FROM SK,ANTIGUA,TRINI ,VINCY,GRENADA,BVI.AND USVI.REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE CELIBRATING WHAT IS OUR GOLD AND THE THE BANDS WILL TOO
And he came in last minute to save the Music Fest and he did. All the other MusicFest cost $600 thousand according to all the old stories. So if he only spent $400k then he still did a great job.
Too much negativity. If he is your boy then have his back!
Stop just hating the man for nothing.
Seems like they just out to throw people under the bus. Since when did this have anything to do with politics???!! Call it for what it is. Enough is enough. You defended yourself Skelly, even when you shouldn't have had to . Opinions hold no substance, FACTS DO!!
Why the Financial Report for Music Fest not in the paper??? Total failure that's why!!!
Was the Financial Report for Spring Regatta in the paper? or any of the other government sponsored events? well why you worrying about this one?
And the MusicFest was huge success. Especially since they had barely any time to plan it. Every night was good. it might not have had a huge huge crowd, but it had a very nice crowd every night and have the pictures to prove it. The Ferries made money, restaurants all over made money, i couldnt even get a rental car that weekend for my cousins! So the rental cars made money. The local musicans got to perform. The ting was good and brought money to the country! So stop being a hater!
what are you doing besides sitting on your backside on the blog, hiding behind a fake name all day. At least he is doing somethings.
Like he said, opinions can't change facts.
SKelly, keep your head up and keep doing what you are doing. Dont let them try to dull your shine (on that bald head LOL).
Maybe someone needs to define success because the Festival was a failure and the Music Fest was a failure. Cost overrun for music fest 150% instead of 150k the government contribution was 400K. Attendance was less then 200 people on Friday 800 people on Sat 400 people on Sunday
Festival the event has been poorly organized for some years now the problem with Sk.......y is he enjoys drinking and partying with his boy just as much as he likes the spot light. He knows nothing about organizing events. What event has he ever organized and in charge of? None...
Let him develop the film commission which he is being paid to do. When was the last time any major filming and producing of a movie or series taken place in the BVI.
Want to know how rude he was to the media during Music Fest ask all the media who planned on boycotting via advertising.
Nobody is hating the boy needs is a failure with these two event.
The boy needs an attitude adjustment and a belt
Now I know for a fact that the man went to court for the accident and was found guilty of some kind of bad driving. He also got sued for some 300 thoudand dollars! So stop the noise about something that happened 7 years ago and had nothing to do with festival.
The boy (as you want to call the man) has been successful at everything he decides to do. He did a good job as Public relations for Festival and he proved it in his statement. MusicFestival was awesome considerin the lil time and no money. It had way more than that number of people. I was there. So stop lying. And in the past, it cost 600 thousand! So if he get it for 400 thousand, even tho it was above budget, he stiill did extremely well!
Oh and let's not forget the BigBallersBasketball League he did! Still the best league ever done in the bvi.
And as for the media planning to boycott...who cares! As far as I am concerned it is you all in the media that need a belt! All the media act like they supposed to be allowed to go anywhere or say anything and that everybody should bend to them. Blowz you all need.
Stay off the MAN! Just too much hating all around this place!
And the bvi has never been interested in any major movies. So that is not a measure for his success at his job. The 2010 report shows that over 40 film productions took place that year. Sounds pretty dam good to me! And he was certified as an International commissioner of film too some time back!
Keep up the good work Skelly. While these jokers hating on you, you keep accomplishing what they could never dream of! I got your back mehboy!