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VIF&FC reverses decision to separate adult & children parades

- Line-up of artistes to be announced tomorrow, June 28, 2013
the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) is sticking to having a combined adult and children’s parade in Road Town for the 2013 Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO/File
Public Relations Manager for the VIF&FC Lynette L. Harrigan told Virgin Islands News online that the VIF&FC decided to reverse its decision to have two separate parades 'because it looks like a lot of people prefer to have it like it was.' Photo: VINO/File
Public Relations Manager for the VIF&FC Lynette L. Harrigan told Virgin Islands News online that the VIF&FC decided to reverse its decision to have two separate parades 'because it looks like a lot of people prefer to have it like it was.' Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With what seems to be a decision based on popular demand, the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) is sticking to having a combined adult and children’s parade in Road Town for the 2013 Emancipation Festival.

The VIF&FC had announced at the launch of the Festival at La Piazza, Prospect Reef on Friday May 31, 2013 that the adult parade would be held in Road Town and the children’s parade in East End. This was reportedly based on a suggestion made at the end of last year's Emancipation Festival.

“Well now it has changed again because it looks like a lot of people prefer to have it like it was,” Public Relations Manager for the VIF&FC Lynette L. Harrigan told Virgin Islands News online when contacted.

Meanwhile, a press release issued earlier today, June 27, 2013 by the BVI Tourist Board, stated that the festival committee “is reversing the decision to have an adult only parade in Road Town and children’s parade in East End. Due to some concerns from various avenues the Committee has decided to return to what they have done in the past and have the joint troops in both Road Town and East End.”

Harrigan also told this news site that further information on the decision to stick with the joint parade in Road Town will be disclosed at a press conference tomorrow, June 28, 2013 at the Youth Affairs & Sports Conference Room. The press conference is being called to announce the artistes scheduled to perform in Road Town, East End and Carrot Bay for the upcoming Festival.

In the meantime, troop owners are encouraged to contact Mr Ottley Hodge at 340-3548 or by email: rtparadecommittee@gmail.com to collect forms and/or submit questions.

It was also announced at the recent Festival launch that the possible line-up for the various shows included, for Road Town: Kes the Band, Etana, Tony Rebel and Iwer George; the artistes that were being looked at for the Carrot Bay Festival were Baby Sham, Rock City, Destra, and 17 Plus Reunion; while East End could have expected Explainer, Winston Soso, Eric Donaldson and much more, said Public Relations Manager for the Festival Committee, Lynette Harrigan, who had emphasised that the artistes were not yet confirmed.

This year’s Emancipation Festival is celebrated under the theme “Looking back at 175 years of being fully free – Our Culture, Our Heritage and Virgin Islands History”. The slogan is “2013 Festival Virgin Islands Style – Celebrate Freedom with Territorial Pride”.

The 2013 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival Village will be named after Ira Oliver Skelton Snr.

13 Responses to “VIF&FC reverses decision to separate adult & children parades”

  • wrong number (27/06/2013, 14:59) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    just keep the politics out of it
  • OVER AND OUT (27/06/2013, 15:48) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    Can someone tell me why missy has on so much face powder makeup on a whole sha man
  • AC 360 (27/06/2013, 15:56) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Does it matter?
  • Everest (27/06/2013, 16:35) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    This reversal is so stupid. If you launched it as such, keep it as such!! The people of the BVI are always against change, but yet, are so quick to criticize and complain when things that are of the "norm" do not work out. Quite frankly, I believe that the separation was a great idea; especially seeing that our "Adult Parade" is now very similar to "Carnival" in Trinidad. Not a great example for our kids, who now will again be apart of it. I am of the opinion that it should be separate, and that the more kid appropriate troupes should be in East End. VIF&FC you already started wrong by retracting information that came directly from you all... CLEAN IT UP!!
    • Really (27/06/2013, 20:23) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ Everest.......... Tortola does not need to have to separate parades. East End needs to join with Town, and have one parade. It makes no sense to have a children's parade after the adult's parade. Stop following St. Thomas and come up with ideas that work for BVI. We are not American!!!
      • Really? (28/06/2013, 15:41) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Why should they? Historically they have always had their own. Nothing was wrong with this idea.
  • ESHS (27/06/2013, 18:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so did Harrigan get her letter? lol
  • thaxz (27/06/2013, 21:05) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    I am so glad they reversed that decision. There are barely enough troupes as it is and I for one do not want to go to East End.
  • gfdgfdgfd (28/06/2013, 15:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let Kids parades go first followed by adult parades.
  • Simple fix (30/06/2013, 00:51) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    The problem wasn't the two parade it was that the kids were regulated to east end and it was after the adults. Plus the only reason why town parade starts anywhere close to on time is because the children's troupes are always there first ready to go! They are usually waiting for the adults. So if they had an only adults parade it would have started around 5 or 6. Next year just join with rotary's kiddies fiesta and let that be the kids parade end of proble.
  • Me (03/07/2013, 22:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    they should split the parade so ppl can come to east not just to see the same troups from town but something different plus the route is shorter than town which is perfect for kids,



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