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Festival & Fairs Committee taking extra precautions to ensure patrons’ safety

- CCTV cameras to be erected throughout the Festival Grounds, in addition to heavy security
Scenes from the 70th Emancipation Festival in 2024. Photo: Facebook/Virgin Islands Festival
Extra precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of patrons for the 71st Emancipation Festival. Photo: Facebook
Extra precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of patrons for the 71st Emancipation Festival. Photo: Facebook
(L-R) Talking Points Co-hosts Damion C. Grange, Violet Thomas-Gaul, guest AChairman of the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee, Mrs Natalie N. Penn-Lake and Co-host Elvin G. Grant. Photo: Facebook
(L-R) Talking Points Co-hosts Damion C. Grange, Violet Thomas-Gaul, guest AChairman of the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee, Mrs Natalie N. Penn-Lake and Co-host Elvin G. Grant. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Extra precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of patrons for this year’s Emancipation Festival.

The 71st Virgin Islands (VI) Emancipation Festival began on July 13 and will run until August 9, 2025. 

The chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee, Mrs Natalie N. Penn-Lake, said while there have been concerns around safety, the committee is “doing what we’re supposed to do to make sure that everyone will have a great time, but they’re also safe at the same time”.

Speaking on Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on Monday, July 21, 2025, Mrs Penn-Lake revealed that cameras will be erected throughout the festival. 

She added that extra security has been sourced and will be on the grounds in addition to a commitment from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) to have officers patrol throughout the festivities. 

“We have taken some extra precautionary measures to make sure that everyone who is going to be attending the festivities will be safe.”

A great lineup for our people- Festival & Fairs Chairman

Mrs Penn-Lake also said she believes that a “great lineup” awaits attendees of this year’s Emancipation Festival. 

“Knowing the short space of time that we had to plan the 71st Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival, I think we have a great lineup for our people in the BVI and the wider community as well.”

She revealed that Coney Island is already on Tortola. It was to be erected on Monday evening and will officially open on Thursday, July 24, 2025, the same night as the Gospel Fest. 

Mrs Penn-Lake said that drone footage and pictures will be posted to social media to “encourage families to come with their kids”.

Entry into Coney Island is free, and this year will feature ten rides. According to the Festival and Fairs Chairman, Coney Island will be barricaded from the rest of the Festival Village. 

Each ride will cost $5, or people can purchase an all-inclusive ride pass for the night for $60. 

“The stage is already up, all the booths have already been constructed…and we’re on our merry way to having a great and safe festival this year,” Mrs Penn-Lake stated. 

16 Responses to “Festival & Fairs Committee taking extra precautions to ensure patrons’ safety”

  • TruDat! (22/07/2025, 08:04) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    AND WHEREAS criminal activity, including murders and other gun crimes, robberies and burglaries continue to rise causing significant social and economic problems and to date the Premier and his Government (with two Government members being members of the National Security Council) has not produced a comprehensive crime reduction strategy to mitigate the situation.
  • Really (22/07/2025, 08:33) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply

    Great lineups. It's the same people with the same music. Only a couple of new people. Boring is what it is. Only the drinkers will have fun because lots of alcohol for them to act a fool...

  • resident (22/07/2025, 08:37) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    how about metal detectors
  • … (22/07/2025, 08:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good job
  • bvibuzz (22/07/2025, 08:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    its about time yall
  • VG (22/07/2025, 08:55) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    Good Luck Natalie i know you will do a great Job this year.
  • Bishop (22/07/2025, 10:13) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Natalie I wish you much success in this endeavour. Just one thing that I want to address. You said with the short amount of time that you had to plan the line up is still a good one. This nonsense has been happeming for decades waiting until June to start planning for August Festival and expect a good product. This is why our Festival does be mediocre at best. Is this enough time to publish the line up for people who will like to come make their plans? The line up should have been ready to hit the air waves since May no later than June. If the Virgin Islands don"t want to invest time and energy and resources in Festival, then cancel the idea instead of giving residents and visitors mediocrity.
  • Herbs Powa (22/07/2025, 10:17) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    Not please with the festival pass tickets price when St Thomas with better artists was free
  • Just saying (22/07/2025, 14:01) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The police should have the power to escort these low life artists off the stage with their debauchery. It is an offense to have to endure this type of madness in the name of celebrating so called freedom. The Festival Committee needs to ensure that all performances meet standards of moral decency. This should be one of the requirements of the House of Assembly. Time for the BVI to wake up and wise up.
  • Endtimes (22/07/2025, 14:43) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    If you revelers find yourself in church, you would not have to be concerned about heavy security with police and guns. As you all may have noted, the young thugs aren't afraid of the police. Times have changed, and getting worse because back in my time(the 80s), we could have enjoyed the festival without all of the drama.

    JESUS IS COMING SOON! GET READY!!
  • My only say (22/07/2025, 18:44) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Boycott the booths, stop supporting thieves and wrong doings.
  • home boy (23/07/2025, 08:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why we got to pay to go in the village, to see artists that was free in St. John a few weeks ago, you all always trying to compare with the USVI, but we can’t hold a bucket with them , the best entertainment for carnival for free, and we got a bunch of Jamaican jokers , and you have to pay a ton of money to go listen to trashy music in our Village.
  • Calling them (23/07/2025, 19:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Festival 2025 is calling all the criminals
  • Y'all sure? (24/07/2025, 09:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well a birdy just told me that the festival committee giving police push back and don't seem to want them around
    They don't even wan off duty cops as an extra layer of protection....


    That's says lot to me. I think some officers had issues getting in last year as well...

    Y'all speaking with 2 tongues

    .but is okay push the police away. I don't attend them kinda events so when something happens, don't bawl out asking where police. Let the security guards and your friends then help you.


    Y'all don't learn and this only influences the youth more to not like police presence and love criminality.

    Last year we had guys sneaking knives through fence. We had one guy seen allegedly with a gun on the festival ground... Imagine you in a crowd and catch a stray bullet cuz some idiots got beef.

    Then we had the big brawl with those guys on the grounds and when one leaving he said he going for his gun to come back....

    Hm good luck. I'll read it on the news.


    This year self a artist got robbed at gunpoint but y'all first thought is to push police away


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