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VIF&FC Chairperson laments lack of funding for festival

- said VIF&FC can only execute plans when funds are made available
Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), Kishma A. Baronville says the Committee can only act on its plans once funding is made available. Photo: Facebook
Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Kishma A. Baronville (2nd from left) was one of the guests on the Morning Ride Show with Paul 'Gadiethz' Peart (right) on July 19, 2016. Photo: Sound Cloud
Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Kishma A. Baronville (2nd from left) was one of the guests on the Morning Ride Show with Paul 'Gadiethz' Peart (right) on July 19, 2016. Photo: Sound Cloud
Beenie Man (left) and Destra Garcia are two of the international artists listed for VI Emancipation Festival 2016 who have performed here before. Photo: Internet Source
Beenie Man (left) and Destra Garcia are two of the international artists listed for VI Emancipation Festival 2016 who have performed here before. Photo: Internet Source
Critics of Education and Culture Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn (inset) said the one million dollars he wasted to build a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School could have been better used to support Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO/File
Critics of Education and Culture Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn (inset) said the one million dollars he wasted to build a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School could have been better used to support Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Saying that the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) has good plans for Emancipation Festival, Chairperson Kishma A. Baronville says the Committee can only act on those plans as funding is made available.

Baronville, who was a guest on the Morning Ride Show aired on ZROD 103.7 FM on July 19, 2016, was responding to a comment by host Paul ‘Gadiethz’ Peart that “word on the street” was that the committee had to “settle” for certain artists, including Sizzla, Destra Garcia and Beenie Man, who have all performed for festival before, due to late planning.

Peart said that as far as he has heard, the Committee “dropped the baton” this year on the organising of Emancipation Festival.

Baronville, however, disagreed that the Committee “dropped the baton,” saying that plans are always in place but the committee can only move as fast as it has the funding to do so.

“We have a team of volunteers. The executive committee while it’s appointed, it’s volunteer. We have subcommittee members that are all volunteers. We have various persons who are on various subcommittees that are volunteers as well. They give of their time and we would want the community to know that the committee has had its plans, but plans are as good as you are able to execute and the execution of these plans require funding. Our sincere apologies for the late information coming out, but we could not have put it any earlier than we have done.”

Troubled VIF&FC

It was our newsroom that first and accurately reported early this year that Baronville had tendered her resignation.

However, it was alleged that after much begging by the controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn, Ms Baronville agreed to retract and has remained in the post of Chairwoman. She has for the past months been chairing all Festival Committee meetings.

The Committee, Virgin Islands News Online was told, was struggling in the planning stages due to lack of financial support from the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the private sector, who is reluctant to give as it is also under financial stress.

Critics of the embattled Education and Culture Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn said the one million dollars he wasted to build a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School in Road Town could have been better used to support our festival and much needed items for schools throughout the British Overseas Territory.

24 Responses to “VIF&FC Chairperson laments lack of funding for festival”

  • Stop Lamenting (22/07/2016, 12:38) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    and go with your own gang and confront your minister. I bet you will see how fast this coward back up.
  • vincyman (22/07/2016, 13:08) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Festival and Fairs Committee are wasting the funding every year... why bring 2 or 3 outside artists on international night every year? my suggestion is bring 1 big artist which may cost 40k+ for each night in the village and use the 2 local band/DJ. i think that's a better way to use the funds...
    • Boss (23/07/2016, 08:52) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Vincy man, I totally, totally agree with you. I wonder how can we be lamenting about money when the line up for East End, Carrot Bay and Road Town to a lesser extent is so packed with foreign artists who is going to take a big trunk of money out of here. I agree it's festival and persons look forward to have lots of fun but we sure can do good with one or two foreign artist but not all that am seeing. When you look at all those foreign artists it makes you wonder who is really benefiting, where is money collected going. Someone have got to be benefiting under the table.
  • Soda crackers (22/07/2016, 13:40) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Festival village needs to be free so pple can enjoy the nights out with family and friends.
    So that the Bars also get more support as well back in those days village was more nice when it use to be free.
    Also it will need lots of police on the streets this festival coming up for things are going right now.
    Please take notes to who a may concern thank you..
  • nonsense (22/07/2016, 13:47) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    I think its time they remove VIFC from under the ministry of Educaton all together. Matther of Fact remove it from under the gov't period. Put it in the hands of a Private entity who can bring come class and decorum back to the Festival. We are to dependent on the Gov't they can be a sponsor yes , but to have full control I dont think so.

    while im on the issue of Sponsor ship, in other caribbean counties its the businesses in the ciommunity that each take a part in funding the Festivals/Carnivals. We have more than enough Trust,Law, Corporations to aid in the development of this country.

    Its Called CORPORATE TAX!! 1% of thier earning can assist with Public Education, Infrastructure, Health etc. etc.
    its done in many other offshore banking industries and can also be done here.
    Come on NDP put things in place for all not just yourselves.
  • chad (22/07/2016, 13:48) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    i love those curves miss b
    • Watchaz(GoodSorces) (23/07/2016, 02:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Me to Buh, Buh I hear she aprt of the taking up money team to floss summer 16 doe
  • bing (22/07/2016, 14:23) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is time for the business community to step up and contribute to festival. The committee must hold fund raisers starting from a year in advance. Government must contribute but should not be the main source for funds for festival. Too many things are left undone because of the present situation.
  • Music (22/07/2016, 14:23) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Festival should NOT be funded by government. If the committe cant raise enough money by fund raising events during the year, they should organise what they can afford, or not have it. Every year we have this problem and you know government wont cough up funds on time, if at all.
    Look at the money wasted on that NPT concert with the Legend fellow.
    And look what has become of the CGB Music Fest..
    Bacchanal in a paper bag comes to mind.
  • student (22/07/2016, 14:48) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wasting Money on all sorts of things and up to now cannot say what they doing about students who apply for scholarship. What is going on with the education system in this country. The minister cannot comment. Word on the street is they only picked a hand full of students. Well have the decency to tell people the bloody truth.
  • Xxx (22/07/2016, 15:00) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    What about the million dollar wall....
    • @ xxx (22/07/2016, 16:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      For real money for our festival
    • Stopit!! (23/07/2016, 15:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Stop lamenting about the damn wall. It is to keep gangs and hudlums out so that our children can be safe. Move on to something else, man. Sounds like a broken record. What about those who don't want locals to swim on some beaches. That is worst than money spent on wall. That's introduction to Apartheid 101. We have more problems than a needed wall around High School.
      • grench (25/07/2016, 07:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        The other day I saw some guys climb over the wall so it's a waste
  • im for privatizing (22/07/2016, 15:06) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ms Borronville what's ur annual plan for Festival?
  • vincyman (22/07/2016, 18:46) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    why do they need international judges for a local QUEEN SHOW ? WASTING MONEY AGAIN...
    • *Hmm (22/07/2016, 23:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      That way u won't hear "Them cheat so n so" even if they favorite don't win.
  • just asking... (22/07/2016, 18:59) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    why she striking a pose?
    • To just asking.. (22/07/2016, 20:15) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      She competing to...for how the whole thing looking this year, the numbers have to come from somewhere. I plan to wear some ole farm clothes and straw hat and make up the 6th troupe in the parade. It's ashamed what we have come-down too under the NDP leadership.
    • Dumb dumb (22/07/2016, 23:43) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      You going on as if she pose for the article. The new site just find a picture of who they talking about and put in the article. She wasn't in front a camera while the journalist was working on a story. Moo moo
  • pat (22/07/2016, 22:45) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just the other day, I had to lecture my much younger cousin about how Myron killed the BVI festival.
  • jokers (23/07/2016, 08:57) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Girl Kishma your a sweet looking Beachhh
  • W*F (23/07/2016, 09:32) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP is not interested in supporting cultural events. They kill Fungi Fest, they kill Music Fest and now Festival is next to go. These idiots don't understand that people visit other countries to experience most of all CULTURE. BVI is culture less .
  • school children (24/07/2016, 09:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a heap of crap. Festival runs for about two weeks and what is the committee doing after that time until it is time for the next festival? Nothing. The Festival Committe should not be solely dependnet on Government our tax dollars. The Committee need to get up off their rumps and start doing fund raiser from September right after the festival finishes. Look at Ms. Flax on Virgin Gorda. From time their festival finishes this year she has been doing fund raisers to raise funds for the up coming 50th celebrations next year. The Committee here on Tortola is too lazy and is only dependent on Government (Citizens tax dollars). Myron didn't kill BVI Festival it is the members who are too lazy to get up off their rumps and do fund raisers.


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