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60th Festival parade must start on time - BVIF&FC Chairman Marvin 'MB' Blyden

- very disappointed no one won 60 inch TV
Chairman of the BVI Festival and Fairs Committee Mr Marvin 'MB' Blyden has given every assurance that the annual Road Town Parade will start on time this year. Photo: VINO
Mr Blyden first gave this assurance recently at the Kiddies Fiesta and again this morning July 31, 2014 following the crowning of the 2014 Calypso winner Joyce Searles aka Sistah Joyce (at right). Photo: VINO
Mr Blyden first gave this assurance recently at the Kiddies Fiesta and again this morning July 31, 2014 following the crowning of the 2014 Calypso winner Joyce Searles aka Sistah Joyce (at right). Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Chairman of the BVI Festival and Fairs Committee (BVIF&FC) Mr Marvin 'MB' Blyden has given every assurance that the annual Road Town Parade will start on time this year.

Mr Blyden first gave this assurance recently at the Kiddies Fiesta and again this morning July 31, 2014 following the crowning of the 2014 Calypso winner.

The moving off of the Annual signature Festival has over the years developed what would have appeared to have become a chronic problem however, Mr Blyden feels he has found the cure.

"‎Last year the reason why the parade didn't start on time because you cannot start a parade without the Parade Marshall and Miss BVI, if we have those two people in place we are going to start the parade on time," said Mr Blyden.

He said that the Coordinator for this year's Parade Mr Treffor Grant has indicated that over sixty troupes have already signed up to be in the procession.

He said that in keeping good to his word once the parade gets on the road late troupes or persons from troupes will have to fit themselves in somehow. "There is no key person this time. This is the 60th and once you get the parade Marshall and the contestants, that's all you need and then everybody will have to fit in as we go along, but we going to start on time, I promise you that," he noted.

The parade is scheduled to get on the road from 11:30am on Monday August 4, 2014.

During this morning's brief interview with reporters Mr Blyden also expressed disappointment at the poor show of knowledge by persons at the calypso competition as no one correctly answered what he considered a very trivial question based on Virgin Islands' history.

The reward was to be one of three 60" TV sets sponsored by Minister for Education Honourable Myron V. Walwyn.

"For the 60th Anniversary I giving up a 60" TV to the whole crowd and they can't win a 60" TV based on simple history? I am disappointed," said Mr Blyden.

Persons were required to give the names of the winner/s of the calypso competition of 1995, 2001 and 2009. They were to also give the person/s correct name/s and the names of their calypso.

He only gave the names of the winners to reporters as King Paido for two years and Makisha for the other.

‎He said they may be making the TV available to be won at some other event during the Festival.

13 Responses to “60th Festival parade must start on time - BVIF&FC Chairman Marvin 'MB' Blyden”

  • Rez (31/07/2014, 09:07) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yeah right! If this Festival starts on time I'll eat my hat, but I won't have to. It is a known fact that people are never on time which makes our day too long waiting for the parade and then when it does start, they are so far apart, it makes you want to go home and never come back. Let's see if Mr. Blyden can produce this time.
  • Bs MB (31/07/2014, 10:35) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    I personally will never ever help volunteer in helping the BVI festivities again MB and his committe is a set of ungreatful pack!! I have done volunteer work abroad and it's a dam shame not even a glass of water the committee want to give you!! Make it worse instead of extending gratitude he is quick to point fingers when something goes wrong I would also have an interesting article about how these ppl operate!!! Plz also note I don't have anything against MB but I'm just exposing how they the committe operate
    • Upon reflection (31/07/2014, 12:19) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
      Volunteerism comes from the heart, not out of an expectation of material reward, no matter how trifling a gift that reward may seem.

      • Just So You Know (31/07/2014, 15:34) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
        Just to clear the air I do a lot of volunteer work both in the bvi, st.martin one event in st. Vincent and I also volunteer in the USA as well and the only point I'm trying to make is that you guys don't even want to give people a glass of water!!! Btw I don't mind buying my stuff but it's the principle of how you guys operate n I personally would not be going back to help
  • Concern 1 (31/07/2014, 13:42) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ontime start of the parade depends on all stakeholders. Don't blame anyone but yourselves if the parade starts late . Time is time but we west indians are famous for being late and sometimes we seek the attention to arrive late as usual. What the committee needs to do is give some form of incentive for early arrivals and points off for late ones
  • volunteers (31/07/2014, 13:46) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    Will we be paid on time?
    • Fair (06/08/2014, 09:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      It's called volunteering, so that's what you looking for? Most of you just walk up and down on the field while others work them butts off. That is not fair, no one needs to get paid and those who slack off need to not be on the committee.
  • hello (31/07/2014, 14:20) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Everyone is saying start on time. What is the on time time?

    I think 12:30 -1 is great starting time.
  • ONLY SOLUTION (31/07/2014, 14:37) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Move the Jouvert that's the only way this parade will start ontime...but hey it's tradition so
  • for real (31/07/2014, 17:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree. The only way for the parade to start on time is to move the jouvert. Remember most of the participants in the troupes, also takes part in jouvert.
    • bvi massive (01/08/2014, 08:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I feel if the parade starts on time , even a little late by 10 minutes , more USVI carnival troupes will come and participate with us . One year I saw people running to catch the boat in their costumes and did not get to perform . Please this is our 60th lets make a change .
  • oh really (02/08/2014, 16:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Move the jouvert for what? People sholud be held accountable. If you have to go to the airport for7am you are there from 530. When you know better do better. Moving the jouvert will not make a difference, especially when dem custom of being late. They will find another reason even if jouvert move. Start without them.


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