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No bank statements from EE/LL & Carrot Bay sub-committees-VIF&FC Report

- sub-committees expressed feeling adrift and apart from main committee
The East End/Long Look Festival Committee was accused by the Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee Marvin Blyden in his 2012 report, now a public document, of not producing any bank statements and its financial standing. The sub-Committee was chaired by Mrs. Sandra Warrican. Photo: VINO/File
The Carrot Bay Cultural Festa Committee was another sub-committee who came under fire by the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee Marvin Blyden for not supplying him with any bank statements. He also accused them of taking sponsorship directly and not going through the main committee so they can turn over the sponsorship to the sub-committee who were promised the funds. Photo: VINO/File
The Carrot Bay Cultural Festa Committee was another sub-committee who came under fire by the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee Marvin Blyden for not supplying him with any bank statements. He also accused them of taking sponsorship directly and not going through the main committee so they can turn over the sponsorship to the sub-committee who were promised the funds. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The lightening rod 2012 Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee’s (VIF&F) report presented by its Chairman Marvin Blyden continues to make headlines.

In the report, which claims an attempt at maintaining transparency in financial relations, the VIF&F Committee stated that it requested bank statements and financial standings from both East End/Long Look and Carrot Bay sub-committees, however “they were never submitted.”

According to the report, it was further determined that sponsorship monies should be written to the VI Festival and Fairs Committee and then the main VIF&F Committee would turn the funds over to the sub-committee to which it was promised.

However, sponsorship monies were still taken directly by the sub-committees without the knowledge of the main VIF&F Committee, according to the report.  To date, according to Chairman Blyden, “the amounts and donors are unknown.”

Mrs. Sandra Warrican was the chair of the East End/Look Long sub-committee and Mr. Stuart Donovan was the chair of Carrot Bay Cultural Festa.  When contacted by Virgin Islands News Online Mr. Donovan said he was the co-chair of the Carrot Bay Sub-committee with Anthea Smith.

Feeling adrift

The controversial VIF & F Committee report laid in the House of Assembly on November 15, 2012 by Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn also mentioned that Virgin Gorda, East End/Long Look and Carrot Bay sub-committees expressed feeling adrift and apart from the main committee and “unsupported in previous years.”

The report went on to say that great efforts were made to include them in the overall planning and running of Festival 2012 as they are not only sub-committee chairs, but members of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee.  “Unfortunately, after the Easter Festival was completed the representative from Virgin Gorda (listed in report as Mrs. Sharon Flax-Mars) did not attend any more meetings…no reasons was given” the report stated.

Sub-committee chairs did not want main committee members at their meetings

The VI Festival and Fairs Committee members attempted to be a part of the sub-committees by attending their meetings, however, the sub chairs “were very resistant to having VIF&F Committee members present, the reported stated.

It added that a list of members and minutes from the sub-committee meetings held were also frequently requested but only the “Parade Committee provided both the member list and minutes, while the Miss BVI Pageant Committee provided the member list.

One interesting issue raised in the report is that some sub-committees also had “inordinate numbers of members (up to 30) and this was only known when the t-shirts and food bills appeared.”

17 Responses to “No bank statements from EE/LL & Carrot Bay sub-committees-VIF&FC Report”

  • ... (06/12/2012, 17:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well sah by time MB done he aint goin got no committee members left!
  • October man (06/12/2012, 17:26) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    spoil brat dat MD
  • APPLE PIE (06/12/2012, 21:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    NO BACK STATEMENT HUMMMMM HOPE DEM NOT HIDING TINGS
  • makisha (07/12/2012, 09:09) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    lets give MB a big "F" for his grade
  • Spy vs Spy (07/12/2012, 11:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    MB just reported what he had encountered - now ayo getting the bowels - lmfao! If he said everything was peachy and rosey ayo would cry liar liar. What do ya'll want? Seems that going against the grain and being honest/transparent and accountable does not bode well with some of you sheeple - go figure right! If members ar enot held accountable for th public monies being spent then why bother with a democracy then - fools I tell yah! Ya'll sheeple need to move to a socialist communist state then where corruption is the norm and accountability - whats that?
  • MIA (07/12/2012, 11:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sponsors should be asking where the money went. Hope it didnt line pockets. what transparency ?
  • trter (07/12/2012, 11:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to see the bank statements. Lets be transparent. We cannot have a RAT minding CHEESE situation here
  • Cordel (07/12/2012, 11:53) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply

    MB I am surprise of you that you would let Br...da sit down and write $h1ts about other committee and sub-committee a woman that can’t even control her own finance she have to asked permission to spend it MB you said that you had no problem with East End is this all about fame or position then you need to check yourself you left people no choice but to say you seem to be a wolf in sheep clothing

  • done (07/12/2012, 19:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    My God the Dotishness will never done
  • each his own (08/12/2012, 10:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Reel em in Marvin..
  • liberal (09/12/2012, 08:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mrs. Caine and James Lettsome wanted to step down not now before longtime and no one wanted to step up. However, I see the Kiddies Village has improved since Mr. Lettsome took the chairmanship. last year was good and this year it was also great. As a member of the committee this has been a shocker to see what has came out from the report. James was away when the report was requested and was unable to get in done. Another matter has me quite upset is, that the monies were verified each night when the accounts person came to collect it verified by the cashers, then James Lettsome and accounts person. James has no dealing with the deposit of the funds since he's not the Treasurer. What MB needs to look into is who collects the monies from James each night didn't make night deposits. James Lettsome is a faithfull chairperson to see our kiddes are safe on those rides and also has a standard of having rides that the festival committee can afford and still look good. Why MB is vex with him for when he was pleased of the rides when he met with the people them of the Coney Island. But question is if he had a beef about that he should have said something in the weekly meetings when the committee meets, SOMETHING IS DAM WRONG WITH THAT REPORT. MB and James don't have bad blood between them but a person has created a dam mess and MB is sitting in the middle of it!!
    • Mith Romney (10/12/2012, 02:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      These NDP jokers expect to win the next election with this foolishness being promoted from their big suporter and money doner Mavin B?
  • sleep (09/12/2012, 20:14) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    MB better wake up and realize that the festival is for the people, not you MB ice.


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