TB staff in scuffle @ VG Taste of the BVI event
This news site was furnished with the names of all the persons involved but based on the nature of the allegations none will be mentioned until an official response can be had from the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith as he sits directly over that organ.
Several persons who were at yesterday's Taste of the BVI event which was held on the Sister Island of Virgin Gorda at the Dock Harbour confirmed several incidents. It was said that an off duty Virgin Gorda BVITB staff had stepped in to offer advice on what was seemingly a move of unfairness and discrimination against a young person when words were exchanged between that off duty staff and another from the Tortola main office.
Our source said that, the Tortola senior staff allegedly shouldered the other which resulted in retaliation by the victim. "Well my girl didn't take it lightly (VG off duty staff) and she called the police and they came," said the source.
According to our information the Director of the BVITB Ms Sharon Flax was at the event and according to our police sources was made aware of the incident.
It was also said that things escalated further as the band for the event proceeded to play and in their live on stage entertainment opted to do the locally produced songs: "Facebook mash up my relationship” followed by "Rock and a Hard Place" composed by a resident and popular Virgin Gorda artist Martino 'Tino' Marks.
It was alleged that as the songs were being performed another senior Officer of the BVITB attempted to unplug the band barring the two songs. "I don't know if it is that, that officer, very senior mind you, was offended thinking they were hitting at her, but I was right there in the office when she tried to pull out the power and the other one,(name called) stood up to her and dare her," said the source.
Asked if at that stage there was another scuffle the source said, "No, at least I didn't see any of the two touch each other, no but it's a shame cause they are very close and such a public display should never happen."
“Right now it's a big issue with the VG Tourist Board people and them from Tortola going on for some time and we will give you the full story on that later," noted the source.
Contact was made by this news site with one of the persons in the alleged scuffle who, when asked about the incident said, "I have nothing to say.” Further pressed to verify the validity of the information related to this news site the individual insisted on not saying if it was true or false.
The BVITB Director Ms Flax was also contacted and in response said what she knows for sure was that the Taste of the BVI at Virgin Gorda was a very successful day despite the fact that it was not as big as the Tortola leg.
"I am not aware of anything happening that was out of the ordinary. I am not aware, we had the event, and the event was successful as far as I am concerned.
Sources said that there were also remarks made publicly by a senior staff of the BVITB that one of the officers involved in the alleged incidents will be fired. But according to persons on the ground, if one of them is to be fired then the other has to be also.
There are also allegations that one of the celebrity chefs in the competition gave the finger after she lost, an action described by eyewitnesses as disrespectful and unprofessional.
As it relates to any official reports made to the police a response is being awaited from Public Relations Officer of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Ms Diane Drayton.
53 Responses to “TB staff in scuffle @ VG Taste of the BVI event”
That ..............one is a real rude inhumane, disrespectful, distasteful jack@ss when dealing with people. How the hell she get that position in Tourism, of all things? She act like she is God of Tortola! Got to be using Voodoo to have people scared of her so...
more often then North Sound and the Valley combine.
They ll do anything for attention not to mention MONEY that's their biggest problem. Cant get enough.
Verys sad and pittyful for sisters; not to mention shameless.
All fighting over money thats not there anymore.
Only the start of things, who's next?
It is my view that the entire body needs to be revamped from the head to tail and recruit people who have actually studies the subject matter. There are many young BVIslanders who have studies the industry that should be coached an given a fair chance. Look at the salaries being paid at the body. It begs to questions if the performance appraisal system is effective as we are yet to see anything positive coming from the BVI Tourist Board. Stop recycling......like one poster said shift some of these worker to other Government departments and then we would see how productive they are. Take for instance, several years ago Uncle Ralph put in place one of his constituents from VG at the TB and that individual is nothing but hot air and fashion. The board spends thousand of dollars a year on this one individual on travel alone and not one thing of substance can be brought back upon their report; yet, every week its a trip somewhere. We have to really get serious about business around here and stop playing games with the livelihood of others.
I beg the Hon. Premier to take a stand, put his foot down and grab the bull by the horn. These lovely islands are heading down a creek fast and someone needs to get us on track before we end up like some other Caribbean islands who were once the cream of the Caribbean.
funny how idiots can get money and power down there, and actually achieve politically empowered leader-ship. dem lead the ship to the watery grave