'Men of the cloth' shun VG Easter Festival invocation
The invocation was done by Ms Franka A. Pickering who before performing the act hit out at persons of the cloth. “With the many priests that we have on the island and pastors, I understand that some do not want to take part in doing the invocation at the Village.”
A missed opportunity
This Ms Pickering said could have been a missed opportunity at touching some souls “… which I think that they have the golden opportunity at that time to probably capture a couple of souls if they did the invocation. And I hope they would think about this long and hard.”
Attracting rounds of applause, Ms Pickering added, “I think they know they don’t have to be in a church to pray, you don’t have to be in the church to capture what we would have already captured. You have to go into the rum shops, in places like this, in order to capture other souls,” as she said there would not have a similar situation come the 2020 Virgin Gorda Easter Festival.
For many years there has been the back and forth debate among the Christian community both on Virgin Gorda and on Tortola as to hosting the fun and frolic festivities during the “holy” season, Easter.
In her prayer, Ms Pickering said, “We all know that we have had challenges over the years to change it to another date, to change the behaviour of troops et cetera, Heavenly Father, it’s an easy task, it’s not difficult if we all would stick together, work together for the betterment of all, that we would like.”
Noting that the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival has been existence for 52 years, Ms Pickering said “Government had thrown the doors open to us years ago for us to do what we wanted to do, about changing festival, Lord, and I guess it had not been changed.”
“So I guess the persons who have been making noise have probably changed their minds because they probably realised it’s not all that bad.”
Sub-Committees to get $$$ by December
Meanwhile, in a move to ease the stress of ‘last minute’ organising of festivals across the territory, Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee Carnel D. Clyne announced that going forward, budgeted monies will be made available to committees by the December prior.
Giving remarks at the opening ceremony, Mr Clyne said, “In the past Virgin Gorda has been challenged with gracing themselves with monies at the last minute.”
“I was in Standing Finance Committee just two days ago and I am happy to mention that every year going forward, with this new administration, the Budget will be passed in December so we will have ample time. At least between now and January morning we will be able to know who the artists are and who are coming.”
This he said will give persons better time to plan their vacation and other activities, “To come to the Virgin Gorda festivities and the festivities on the main island.”
Also present at last night’s opening and giving remarks were Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Fisheries and Culture Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), Junior Minister for Tourism, Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL), and Director of Tourism Sharon P. Flax-Brutus.
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Minister for Health Hon Carvin Malone, and Deputy Speaker of the HoA Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) aka "Sheep" were among the audience.
14 Responses to “'Men of the cloth' shun VG Easter Festival invocation”
If one showed up and asked for use of the microphone for prime time hour to pray to our God asking Him to save every Tom, Dick and Harry present and who are bringing dishonor to His sacred week I know you would refuse him/ her. How should a true man/ woman of God pray at an event like this? Don't kid yourself we are not coming to ask God to bless something that dishonors Him. Who have ears to hear let them hear.
A set of damn hypocrites!!!
Sum of them even in the closet in dark places but out in church with gown on and ting!
The right person blessed the events.
Why does an event such as this need "men of cloth" to bless it anyway, and from whom blessings were being asked?