Chairman of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee, Marvin Blyden, expressed that the VG Festival Committee was 'very ready' for the upcoming VG Easter Festival. Photo: VINO

Minister for Education & Culture, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, disclosed that the VG Festival has been given an allocation of $100,000 by his Ministry. Photo: VINO

According to Chairman of the VG Festival Committee, Rupert Vanterpool Jr, at least six calypsonians are expected to participate in this year's event. Photo: VINO

"Based on Mr Vanterpool and his team and how they relate to me, I believe they are very ready," was Mr Blyden's response when asked how ready the team was to start the Festival. The statement was made during a press conference held yesterday, March 12, 2013 in Virgin Gorda to announce the launch of the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival.

Chairman Blyden also sought to downplay concerns raised regarding transportation of persons, who may take ill during the Festival, to the local Peebles Hospital in Tortola.

"With all the Festivals, once we have a function, we make sure that the Red Cross is there. they are the major set up of Festival," Blyden disclosed, "you always see a booth for the Red Cross people and the Red Cross takes it to the next level if they need extra help."

The VI Committee Chair, in clarifying the transportation aspect, noted that he had "just come off the Government's boat and [thought] that if [sick persons] have to use a next set" another boat will be called for.

In relation to systems being put in place to avoid a similar fiasco that transpired where a headline artiste had become a 'no show' at the Carrot Bay Festival last year, Blyden explained that the Committee had ensured that it had done all it could to avoid a recurrence of the issue, but felt that "things like that were beyond [the Committee's] control."

"You hire somebody, just like you hire a worker, and [on] one of your best days the worker [doesn't] show up," Blyden said, "we are making all preparations to make sure that our funds come back to us if there is a deposit. Like everything else, somebody could take sick and they don't show, but at the same time we are putting things in place that if we send a deposit, we make sure that we get back our deposit."

When asked about prizes for the participating Calypsonians, Blyden responded, "at a later date, they would have that information". According to Vanterpool Jr, at least six calypsonians are expected to participate in this year's event including Sistah Joyce, Ojingah and former Monarch King Henry. Each calypsonian is expected to be doing two songs during this year's Festival and songs are being distributed to radio stations to help promote the Calypso Competition.

Acts for the Village Opening on March 31, 2013 include Denise 'Saucy' Belfon, Session Reloaded, VI Showtime Band and Lashing Dogs while the artistes for the following night will be Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons alongside the Asylum Band as well as Pumpa and the Unit.

According to the Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, the amount budgeted for the VG Easter Festival and allocated by his Ministry is $100,000.

Transportation and accommodation issues are also being addressed for persons who might encounter difficulties travelling back and forth for the Festival. According to Chairman Blyden, Speedy's [transportation services] usually puts in an extra boat each year to ensure that persons can come back and forth. He noted, however, if the hotels were filled, there was nothing the various committees could do in this regard.

Marketing Manager of the BVI Tourist Board, Ms Lynette L. Harrigan, expressed that the Tourist Board was also doing all it could in this area, "we are also pushing that as well, the accommodation as well as the extra ferry runs, we are doing a very good job of pushing that so everyone would know what time the boats are running and all the extra runs that are going to be [available]."

This year's event is being held in remembrance of the late Mr Darwin George and the theme is 'Revisiting our cultural scene for VG Easter Festival 2013'.