Local Janette N. Brin Out! Jamaican Damian C. Grange In! @ Pageant Committee
It was a few weeks ago that Government, through a festival committee press release, announced the merger of three franchises in the Territory---the Miss World BVI, Miss Universe BVI and the Miss British Virgin Islands Pageant.
In the announcement, it was said that Ms Janette N. Brin, of the Miss BVI Committee, will co-chair the newly formed organisation with Mr Damian C. Grange of the Miss World BVI.
However, our newsroom sources in the committee advised us that there was confusion from the beginning of the merger, reportedly over power, respect and who wants who to do what.
Brin & Grange fought for power
The infighting reached a climax yesterday June 9, 2017 with the departure of indigenous Virgin Islander Janette N. Brin, the granddaughter of Ira L. Smith, and her letter of resignation was sent to selective media houses.
According to the same source, there were reportedly only about three girls willing to run for Miss BVI under Brin before the merger and some 5 girls with Mr Grange's Miss World Franchise. Some thought it would have been embarrassing that the Miss BVI Show was on the verge of cancellation because of lack of girls.
Hence, to save face, the merger came and resulted in up to seven girls being available and willing to run under the new joint effort.
From the get go, according to a committee member with knowledge of the situation, there was a power struggle as to who the young ladies were to listen to, as Mr Grange wanted to use his own people, mostly males, for training and other coordination efforts.
One of the trainers for the girls who came with Ms Brin also resigned over allegedly not being respected.
In addition, it was said and confirmed that Ms Brin had issues with Mr Grange being an expat heading up a committee dealing with Virgin Islands culture. The Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) endorsed Grange and did not see it as an issue like cultural icon Ms Eileene L. Parsons OBE did, according to what was implied in Ms Brin’s resignation notice.
Jamdown run things not locals?
In her letter of resignation, Ms Brin stated that "the pageant is our pride, heritage and part of the fabric of VI culture; one of our most prestigious events that must at all times be preserved as it is our legacy. In speaking to early and more current queens along with senior Virgin Islanders such as Ms Eileene L. Parsons, the preservation of our legacy is and forever will be important in our advancement. This pageant is one of the many avenues to instill this sense of pride in our young women," Brin said.
As the nasty fight continued, Ms Brin is said to have found little support from either the Minister or the Committee and told the public "unfortunately, these views weren’t fully shared or supported and hence, I have decided to resign from the VI Festival & Fairs Committee.”
While Mr Grange, a Jamaican national living in the Virgin Islands for a number of years and whose immigration status is unknown to our newsroom as he holds a public sector job, Brin made it clear that the continued advancement of the pageant should be led by a Virgin Islander, adding “it ensures that Virgin Islands Pride is upheld and the overall integrity of the pageant is not compromised".
And, according to well-placed sources, Brin's decision to resign followed an emergency meeting of the committee recently where the main focus was addressing concerns raised about an alleged public outburst by Brin where it was alleged she “embarrassed Grange” by raising her voice at him in the presence of pageant contestants and other persons, including committee members.
She reportedly apologised to Mr Grange at the meeting but subsequently resigned. Hon Walwyn, the Minister for Culture, was reportedly at that meeting.
It is reported that Hon Walwyn has accepted Brin's resignation and Alicia Hamm, a Virgin Islander, is expected to be appointed as co-chair, replacing Brin.
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84 Responses to “Local Janette N. Brin Out! Jamaican Damian C. Grange In! @ Pageant Committee”
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I can go on and on , while many who are comp
Not because a local heads something means it will represent VI Heritage or be run properly. That is such a stupid way to look at things! Thr question is why only 3 girls were willing to run with Brin there? So we rather the show be cancelled in the name of a BVIslander %^&* things up than to actually have the show? Damian is a good dude and Im sure he has locals on his team helping. This is all just self serving and embarrassing as hell for our Territory.
His face there because he pays taxes here, he commits endless of his personal time doing charitable things for the BIG and not Jamaica because here is where he lives and work... he has several bank accounts here not in Jamaica. He has a heart for community which many so-called "BORN HERE" fail to exhibit and I can giving and on.. fool if you can do what He is doing or better the way is clear go do it and prove yourself.... the festival committee begs for voluntèers so much and ppl like just sit your backside in the shadows and run your mouth rather than stepping forward and making a contribution.... shut the hell up n come kiss my backside... fed up of u ppl with your shot.. .. that's why the governor got to do as he is doing cause tell too fing small minded.. few from here got really love for bvi and show it.. go you r***ole n sit down....
If the chair of the Ms. BVI pageant was putting country above self, that show would have been executed independently without others being blamed, because the pride of continuing a BVI cultural tradition without crippling dependence on non-indigenous contributors would have ensured the show's success.
The minister cause this mess he need to get his act together when he is dealing with the BVI culture what he do not fully understand. MR MINISTER let me tell your ball a// some thing our festival is not miss world thing. Please go back from the time the two churches use to run the festival . Now you come with your sh*t and push it under the bus you are a disgrace to our culture. I save the best for another time.
JAMAICAN AND GUYANESE got balls and know how that you don't have. Maybe you need to go live for a while in one those country and you will See what's true love for country is.. "Love for everyone - no matter where you come from" that's Jamaica and Guyana for you. That's why we can go anywhere in the world and make an impact ...tek dah
all the business will be going uni now . this is a ndp decision
Its unfortunate that the Co Chair-woman, a local allowed the expat co-chair to seemingly run her from this committee. ONLY IN THE BVI
Janette and her committee which includes at least 3 former Miss BVIs were sidelined and exiled in favor of bunch of men with links to the Minister. We will not say what all those men have in common
It’s not just a question of one person being a island man but a referendum on BVIslanders wanted to lead this important cultural celebration.
Current political dynamics suggest the Minister is the real problem he cares little about locals just his xpat male friends
I just can't explain it but it seems that being born here or a descendant of here is almost a misnomer- a "bad word"-so to speak.
How did we get here?
Is this the beginning of the end for the indigenous Virgin Islander(UK) and their place in this country?
Provide the committee with a local then! Jan is not the one clearly! Three contestants versus miss world six. No one want to run under her leadership after last year. Look even harder Erica versus Kaida. Every time they represent them crown Kaida shuts down the place in speech, poise and presence. Kaida just help launch the Depression support association which a part of her platform that she been speaking about since entering the pageant last year. Kaida stays in schools mentoring kids and helping out in dance activities. WA under brin leadership have Erika really done to uphold a LEGACY, HERITAGE or even stay true to her platform?? All she do is complain about not receiving support from brin. And whether brin like Erica or not as CHAIR she needed to take better care of her queen. BVI is not the only country who franchise holder or head of committee is not a native of that land and we won't be the last. Jan you shoulda leave quietly... ask any 2016 contestant, her queen Erica and 2017 contestants if you made them miserable!!!!!!!! When the crown queen goes off to represent the BVI she don't speak about committee she speaks about BVI. Never have I ever heard Erica or Kaida when they went off spoke about brin or grange in an interview or on stage!!! Because ITS NONE ISSUE! Just find another local to head it with LOCAL ALCIA HAMM if y'all that hot and bothered. But just remember the focus of this heritage and legacy y'all speak about must come thru the queen! The focus should be on the queen! She is the ambassador, the face of the country. The behind the scenes men should simply ensure that she's adequately equip in all aspects.
As far as I am concerned neither of them can speak.
@liberal. I bet you Ms. P can bring back the pride and authenticity back to these events, even from her wheelchair. Like it or not, we still have a lot of respect for how so does things because she has that firsthand experience and she is well researched. The only downfall Ms. P has, is that, she is too loyal to the NPD to a fault and that clouds her judgment on calling out NDP too late on their failures. Dr. Smith, Myron, Mark, Dr. Pickering, and the others, all need to be put on the couch and chastised for this spiraling decline in all dysfunctional areas of our country. It is all interrelated. This abnormal directiion our country is heading in is utterly- unacceptable.
Myron has been on top of my list to date but now I must reshuffle the list.
I am of the feeling that his move on this will further dampen the August Festival and most definitely the pageant.
Not a good sign for re-election Myron . Casualty within the NDP could also happen as a result. You need to pick your battles carefully. The parade of women on a catwalk is simply not worth it.
We don't want to hear no Jamaican accent man running no cultural queen show for us. We can't go to Jamaica and get in their pagents. Boi, find your place, not inahwe culture. Go siddung. Its ahwe culture and we aint changing it.