No Parade, No International Acts: Festival mostly virtual- Dr the Hon Wheatley
The Minister revealed that the celebration, which is being held under the theme 'BVI Festival 2020, be fully free, emancipate yourself from mental slavery as we celebrate our Virgin Islands history’ will be from July 31 to August 5, 2020.
The slogan for this year is ‘Our cultural heritage in the mix, as BVI festival celebrates its 66th.’
“As a result of the economic impact of COVID-19, we cannot spend the hundreds of thousands of dollars that we usually spend feting. Inevitably our celebration this year will look different. COVID-19, however, has provided us with an opportunity to be more creative, to have more focus on our local arts and culture and to make sure our heritage is properly recognised,” Dr Wheatley said during the 13th Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola, on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.
“As a result of the social distancing protocols, we will not be wuking up in a J’ouvert. To say it correctly, our Rise and Shine Tramp, we will not be prancing in the street on August Monday, but we now have the opportunity to reflect on the how and why we celebrate our festival,” he added.
Activities on the agenda
The minister said this year’s festival would consist of both virtual events and physical events while observing all the COVID-19 social distancing and sanitisation protocols subject to the approval of Environmental Health and the Health Emergency Operating Centre (HEOC).
He said due to COVID-19, “We are keeping a keen eye on the situation in the Territory as it pertains to the possibility of active COVID-19 cases. Therefore the current plan is subject to further review and we will keep you the people informed if there is any reason to change these plans.”
The activities will commence with a cultural food fair on Friday, July 31, 2020, followed by a virtual opening ceremony.
“We will close off Friday with a virtual poetry slam,” he said.
Hon Wheatley continued: “On the following day, Saturday, August 1, we will have a farmer’s market in Carrot Bay. Last year this was one of the cultural highlights of the festival. On Sunday, August 2, we are asking all churches in the territory to have emancipation church services in the morning. This will include our church service at the Long Look Methodist Church where we will tell the story of the Nottingham free people from whom I descend.”
Minister Wheatley said on the same day; there will be a virtual gospel explosion.
“On August Monday we will be having a virtual VI Soca showcase. On August Tuesday we will have a virtual Calypso Review, and we close off our celebrations on August Wednesday with the festival of culture and praise in Long Look/ East End.”
He then urged all to play their respective roles in making this year’s event joyful.
“Decorate your offices, wear festival t-shirts, have festival themed events. Festival belongs to all of us, and we all have a responsibility to bring the joy of festival into focus. We cannot allow COVID-19 to rob us of our pride as a people,” he added.
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15 Responses to “No Parade, No International Acts: Festival mostly virtual- Dr the Hon Wheatley”
Zero creativity or ingenuity. One term!
We Covid Free so what the hiccups about?
Nevertheless, over time, the celebration has slowly gravitated from a Festival to a Carnival, drifting from the original purpose of the celebration. From late July to early August, residents take a respite from their work life and other activities, let their hair down, wuk up in j’overt among other things. Further, Festival has been highly commercialized. Though not averse to Virgin Islanders providing services and earning a profit, the core purpose of the Emancipation celebration cannot be lost; it must be the primary and predominant focus.
Moreover, this time should be used to re-create an original purpose of August Festival renaissance, a renewa. Festival should look, feel, breathe……etc like a freedom celebration; it should reflect local culture, heritage, customs, courtesies, history……etc. Festival in its authentic state can be an attraction for returning residents and visitors.