Festival committee members and local officers urge revellers to leave their issues at home, and have a stress free festival season. Photo: VINO/File

During a meeting on July 23, 2012, attended by festival Chairman Marvin Blyden, Village Committee Chair Frenchie Gumbs, Festival PRO Rhodni Skelton, along with representatives of the RVIPF Officers James, Headley and Amory, they discussed the issues of Police stopping tramps and jouverts as well as the logistics of them, where efforts were made to see if both sides could come to one accord as we approach the opening of the Festival.

According to the Festival Committee, the RVIPF has agreed to work with them, and allow the committee the opportunity to try to address any altercation that "may be arising, before it arises, before they intervene and potentially stop the Tramp altogether".

According to Superintendant James at the meeting, he stated, “we would like to ensure everyone has a fun and exciting time, but a safe time as well. Our intention is not to stop our young folks from enjoying the festivities at all. However we must look out for the Public’s safety. As such we will work together with the committee, in partnership to ensure this happens”.

Chairman Blyden thanked the officers for their cooperation and added that, “we are building up to the 60th Anniversary and we absolutely need to have the RVIPF on board with us. I am looking forward to moving forward together and building a strong relationship with the RVIPF and all of the other involved agencies, to ensure that, while I am the Chairman, we have an excellent Festival.”

The VI Festival & Fairs Committee is making a special plea to all of the participants of the Tramps and on Jouvert to leave their squabbles behind and help to ensure that all of the events are incident free.

Mr. Blyden stated that the committee will be working closely with the bands that are performing in the tramps to control any altercation that may be arising, before it turns into an incident.

It was agreed by the Fairs and Festival Committee that both the August Monday and August Tuesday morning Rise and Shine Tramps will begin at 3 a.m. and end promptly at 7 a.m. at Wickhams Cay.

The jams are scheduled to begin at the Port Purcell Roundabout.

According to the committee, the Monday morning tramp will feature four (4) local bands while the Tuesday morning Tramp will feature the legendary Caribbean Ecstacy and culminate with water sports (greased pole, diving for distance, diving for time & swimming races). The Water sports will take place at the tender dock on the Cruise Pier.

The members of this year’s Festival Committee made it clear that no other tramp or jouvert will be allowed and if any other bands wishing to participate in any of the Tramps, must first register with the VI Festival & Fairs Committee or they will be stopped immediately by the RVIPF.