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Opening of VI Emancipation Festival was 'not just bacchanal’- Bishop Cline

- said it felt like a cultural emancipation event
The Torchlight Procession, one of the most significant events of the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival, about to begin in Road Town on July 27, 2026. Photo: Facebook
Former Interim President of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Bishop John I. Cline, said the Torchlight Procession and official opening of the 72nd Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival felt like a cultural emancipation event and not bacchanal. Photo: Facebook
Former Interim President of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Bishop John I. Cline, said the Torchlight Procession and official opening of the 72nd Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival felt like a cultural emancipation event and not bacchanal. Photo: Facebook
The 72nd Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival officially opened on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Lavida Cottoy Festiville. Celebrations are being held under the theme ’Culture Rising, Hearts Align. VI Festival, One of a Kind’. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
The 72nd Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival officially opened on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Lavida Cottoy Festiville. Celebrations are being held under the theme ’Culture Rising, Hearts Align. VI Festival, One of a Kind’. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
CANE GARDEN BAY, Tortola, VI- Former Interim President of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Bishop John I. Cline, said the Torchlight Procession and Official Opening of the 72nd Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival felt like a cultural emancipation event and not bacchanal.

“We had a wonderful torchlight march from the admin complex up to the festival ground. That was good; it felt like a cultural emancipation event and not just a bacchanal or carnival setting. So I was grateful to be a part of that,” Bishop Cline said during a live stream on his Facebook page on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. 

Some members of the public, including church officials, have criticised the festival as having lost its cultural significance and leaning heavily towards a carnival-like experience. 

The 72nd Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival officially opened on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Lavida Cottoy Festiville. Celebrations are being held under the theme ’Culture Rising, Hearts Align. VI Festival, One of a Kind’. 

Have a safe emancipation celebration

He expressed gratitude to Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) for their participation in leading the Torch Light Procession. 

Bishop Cline encouraged persons to enjoy the Emancipation celebrations, adding, “I just want to wish everyone a safe emancipation celebration holiday season… [I] hope that we have a good emancipation season and not just flesh and feathers as the late Honourable Eileens Parsons [has] said.”

Festivities continue this evening at the Lavida Cottoy Festiville with the Soca Monarch Competition. The Miss BVI Pageant, scheduled for August 2, 2026, is another highly anticipated event on the festival's calendar of activities. 

The 2026 Emancipation Festival will culminate on August 8, 2026.

4 Responses to “Opening of VI Emancipation Festival was 'not just bacchanal’- Bishop Cline ”

  • Sacrificial Ceremonies (28/07/2026, 12:46) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Food for thought; I just want to share my thoughts on the many blood sacrifices we have yearly and these ceremonies in commemoration of them which keeps the dark shadow of death over this country. The men and women that die and for those who meet in dark buildings behind RTW and other secret gatherings to present the blood of those who they put forward so that these generations of Family names be held in high authority. Just look at the names of those in office and that will tell you who paved the way for them to be where they are today. Don’t take what im saying for granted and no conspiracy theory but reality and facts that is blatantly in your faces that you turn a blind eye to every day as normal. IT IS NOT.

    It’s done around the world and BVI is no exception. I remember a current politician once told me that not everyone can be rich in the BVI. It must have a control balance and he couldn’t explain why if BVI is the home of the mega rich from Russia to America to the land down under Australia. Trillions of dollars passes through this place but the country have nothing to show for it other than its natural beauty and these sacrificial guards in authority hounding us for a vote just to keep them in power to guard the banks of the wealthy.

    I just hope that the many of you will pause for a minute to meditate and open your third eye and just ask this question of “WHAT IF?”

    You will come to your senses that not all that glitter is gold and do what is right with the only thing you got which is that “VOTE” and give it to those that are in the less fortunate and not to those who been there for so many years and did NOTHING for this country to prosper but just to keep their position as a national sacrificial guard.

    This time you have a chance to change the guard if you want to see change for the better. Vote them with family names and ties OUT.

    CHANGE THE GUARD!
  • Who’s going (28/07/2026, 13:03) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    To tell him? Sir you are absolutely correct- it’s not all bacchanal, it’s also flesh and feathers, having sex with whoever is down for given it up. The disclaimer about no alcohol for kiddos just a front. Like the front some used during the Covid era ( no mask no entry) once you get in the jam- well you know pure bacchanal. Times has changed. Social media opinions by a certain demographic seem to control a lot of things and not always in a good way. We have a large amount of people who still think the artist should be free even though caught with a loaned gun. After 12am in a whole different district. The justification from a lot of people tells us where we are headed as a society. I weep for those who lost loved ones due to gun crime while watching a bunch of people pledging to release him because he doesn’t like like a criminal ( however if you want to know what criminal looks like go on Facebook and check those who put free the artist and the people that likes their status. They dress good. They socialize and move normal. Those people will allow drugs and guns to run the streets once they get their cut and no one in their circle gets hut. So Pastor Cline keep on praying and pray hard.
  • Herbs Powa (28/07/2026, 18:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    With Jamaica scamming the Bvi 2.4 million dollars, the festival village supposed to be free entry every night or someone need going to jail.
  • Why start off (28/07/2026, 23:34) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Festival with gospel. Oil n water dont mind.

    No wonder around that time we got so much deaths


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