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‘I resigned from VIF&FC as VG Rep!’ – Ms. Sharon Flax

Director of the BVITB Ms Sharon Flax was confident that they did market Festivals of 2012 - 2014. Photo: VINO
The recent report of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) which was laid in the House of Assembly on September 25, 2014 on page 13 stated that marketing for Festival leaves much to be desired and that at this stage of Festival development, marketing needs to be separately funded and no longer dependent on funds from the BVI Tourist Board. Photo:VINO
The recent report of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) which was laid in the House of Assembly on September 25, 2014 on page 13 stated that marketing for Festival leaves much to be desired and that at this stage of Festival development, marketing needs to be separately funded and no longer dependent on funds from the BVI Tourist Board. Photo:VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Director of the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB) Ms Sharon Flax who was crushed by the recent report of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) which was laid in the House of Assembly on September 25, 2014 denounced some of the findings.

Ms Flax was approached by members of the media yesterday September 29, 2014 following a press conference of the BVITB which sought to promote this year’s Food Fete scheduled for November.

She told reporters that she was not keen on commenting on the report except to say that there were elements that she felt were quite the opposite of the facts. She was at the time referring to the section of the report which stated that the BVITB did not market the activities of the 2012-2013 Festivals.

In the report on page 13 it stated that marketing for Festival leaves much to be desired and that at this stage of Festival development, marketing needs to be separately funded and no longer dependent on funds from the BVI Tourist Board.

“In 2012 and 2013 Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee was promised certain promotional plans by the BVI TB, but these were never realised at the level that they were promised,” the report is quoted as saying.

“I am very confident that the BVI Tourist Board marketed Festival in 2012 – 2013 and 2014 with the resources we had and to the best of our ability to attract visitors to the destination,” said Ms Flax.

Ms Flax also responded to allegations that she had never attended any of the meetings of the VIF&FC as the appointed representative, something she did not deny but said that she had just cause for not attending.

“There is truth to the claims I did not attend any of the meetings. As far as I am aware the Festival and Fairs Committee received a resignation letter from me as it relates to me being responsible for sister islands tourism.”

Asked when the resignation was submitted Ms Flax said, “They would have to tell you about that.”

Several calls to Chairman of the VIF&FC Mr Marvin “MB” Blyden yesterday afternoon for a confirmation and clarification of this claim by Ms Flax went unanswered. However contact was made with a few persons who sit on the committee but who declined to be named.

“I don’t want my name being called in all this mess, for me that’s the report and that its all water under the bridge for me. I find some things to have appeared to deliberate to make some people look bad but I have no part in this nonsense,” said one of the members.

Another said that they had no knowledge of Ms Flax resigning the position as according to the member, Ms Flax was appointed by Cabinet and her resignation letter would have had to have gone there. “We never heard about her resigning, this is news to my ears and I am sure it’s news to all the others but I can only speak for myself.”

Despite efforts to press for further comments from Ms Flax she insisted that she had nothing further to say as it related to the statements in the report.

19 Responses to “‘I resigned from VIF&FC as VG Rep!’ – Ms. Sharon Flax”

  • Who the Cap Fit (30/09/2014, 08:40) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    This lady was thrown under the bus by those guys.
    • weed (30/09/2014, 11:04) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
      Simple, people are thrown under the bus when they don't support the nonsense done by others who are in control of certain entities. So what do you do? Weed them out.

      Unfortunately, S. Flax is one of many on the NDP camp who follow instructions although in a directors post and not lead.

      NDP control she.
  • idk (30/09/2014, 08:54) Like (15) Dislike (6) Reply

    I do not understand how the minister could let such a petty report be laid on the table? Does he read these things before they are laid? Why is MB always throwing someone under the bus? He walking around with a lot of baggage man. A report such as this should not consist of who aint speaking to who, who could not be reached..all we are inteested in is how the money was spent. Did we make or loose money. How can we improve on festival..we dont care about the children melay. I think its time for MB and those two ladies from the ministry of education and the one who working NHI to leave the festival commitee. Set of H.GS who dont know how to talk to people. Mr. Minister, please remember when you are allowing reports such as this to be laid, read it first and remember these people are giving their services free. Soon no one would want to be a member of the festival committee...You had better get a hold of festival..This continued mess each year does not look good on you.

  • bay yute (30/09/2014, 10:02) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    She needs to go!
  • Enough Enough (30/09/2014, 11:12) Like (32) Dislike (3) Reply
    This lady was thrown under what bus? You all are so blind and stupid that you cannot see that Ms. Flax cannot handle the job? She micromanages and does not have a clue. She somehow thinks that because she is the Director she must be the one to speak on everything all over the place. When you listen to her you wonder whose judgment it was to place here there in the first place and even worse, to keep her there. To date Ms. Flax cannot show what she and the BVITB have accomplished. That entire department needs to be cleaned out. Too many people there just in positions and not giving value for money.


    This seems to be a perennial problem here in the BVI. Everybody wants the best job and are not equipped to handle it. Then when they get there they and others in the community (family and friends) act as if it's their God given right. Square pegs in round holes never worked and never will. If you do a desk audit of positions in the TB you will realize that not much is being done. We are throwing good money after bad. There is need for a change in the TB. All those title holders need to be reassigned to places more appropriate for their skill levels. It is interesting that most people are looking at Education and other departments and letting TB slip by. I wonder why. Where is the Chairman is he asleep or are his hands tied. If so, where is the Premier?

    Lastly, people need to stop blaming MB for trying to run the Festival and Fairs Committee as a viable business where profit and loss are important topics. Having money dumped on these events do not produce anything. Neither does it profit us to have people who are not accountable running around looking busy and producing nothing. Outcome, results, benefits should be our buzz words not largesse and hand-outs.
    • Realist (01/10/2014, 10:25) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      She is a NDP crony that why she is the post. There are so many individuals much more qualified than her to fill that post but as far as I am concerned in the BVI when you have connections, qualification in most instances is non-existent. Persons were talking about the Wendy Williams sweepstakes that the BVI Tourist Board done a couple of years ago and how it was a bust but our neighbors in the USVI did the exact same thing just recently. Please bring back Haddasah Ward and get rid of the Flax clan from the Tourist Board period!
  • Thinking Ahead (30/09/2014, 11:27) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    I think it is clearly displayed why all of these negative reports are being prepared. Why do you think that they want to frustrate all of the loyal patriotic B.V. Islanders who readily willingly to give of their services and time uncompensated. If you have not figured it out I will tell you. No more volunteered positions.
    Economic slavery..... It is not because my brother is doing it that makes it right.
  • vgboy (30/09/2014, 11:44) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    NDP HIT LIST GETTING LONGER
  • billyb (30/09/2014, 12:18) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was backing her, but just her response alone tells me she lying. If someone asks you if you have resigned, the answer is either yes or no!!! Why you have to go all round the bush to tell people, go here, there and every where to ask someone else if YOU resigned??? You just making yourself look stupid.

    And as for the person who said:
    “We never heard about her resigning, this is news to my ears and I am sure it’s news to all the others but I can only speak for myself.”
    Shut your @$$
    If you only speaking for yourself, why mension that you "sure it is news to all others".???
    if you speaking for yourself, speak for yourself!!!!

    Your response alone say you know more than you saying and Flax response alone says she lying
    All ayo just need to go one side go siddung and JUST SHUT UP...
    • @ Billyb (01/10/2014, 00:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      And this is why I don't bother with bloggers on here anymore. Level of intelligent conversation has gone so far out the door its plain sad.
      • BUT... (03/10/2014, 14:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ Billyb..but you are bothering with bloggers because here you are commenting on why you won't comment. LOL
  • Yogga yogga (30/09/2014, 12:51) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    @ enough enough what do you know about Ms flax seems like nothing because of your comment empty jealous vessel an hating
  • VG (30/09/2014, 14:39) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    You are just as bad as Dr. O'neal. You abandon VG and want to be our rep.NO WAY
  • bvi (30/09/2014, 15:15) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    She better pack her bag once vip gets in
  • vex (30/09/2014, 15:48) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Blah blah blah blah
  • ABC (30/09/2014, 22:31) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mrs. Flax as Director of the Tourist Board is one thing but when this lady who is an American citizen, who holds a US passport is appointed as Chief Immigration Officer then we will have a real problem. Dr. Smith just amaizes me.
  • Really (01/10/2014, 00:15) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    i know is a serious piece going on here, but the false hair, the fake expensive thing around she neck,
    fake looks, fake life, false accusations, false assumptions, fake lifestyles,
    Nice means bad to some etc etc
  • Tigress (01/10/2014, 20:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    She needs to go I agree that she micromanages the department. When workers with good suggestions pass them on to her, she writes back and tell them not to write directly to her anymore but she accepts such comments from other s. She sees some of her staff as beneath her and that is not good. Dress is not all. Shut down that unit and restaff it again without some of them nogooders that there running things
  • virgin gorda (02/10/2014, 09:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    She and ann the two worse directors ever


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