Honourable Myron V. Walwyn has hinted at involving young women from the four main islands of the Territory to participate in this year's Miss BVI Pageant. Photo: VINO/File

The advisory committee for the 60th Anniversary of Festival and the BVI Festivals and Fairs committee are to round table the idea of stepping up the level of the Miss BVI pageant of 2014. Photo: VINO/File

The recommendation for a significant activity to be held at the Long Look Stickett originally came from Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (centre) on July 24, 2013. Dr Pickering is also the Seventh District Representative. Photo: VINO/File

Nottingham Estate, the site of the first freed slaves in the Western Hemisphere in 1776 will be highlighted in a historical celebration at “The Stickett” in Long Look on the proposed date of Friday 25th July 2014 as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations of Festivals 2014. Photo: VINO/File

Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn on January 21, 2014 announced the decision for the activity to be held at the Stickett. Photo: VINO/File

The idea, according to a reporter, was a constant moot in society as persons felt that the queen is not usually given adequate opportunity to appear at events during the festival season as it is usually held closer to the end of the celebration.

In response, Hon Walwyn said while the idea is one that is to be considered seriously by the advisory committee and the BVI Festivals and Fairs committee, it was first shared with him with ‘The Guys’ at the Sunday morning well.

He said that the men had voiced concerns about the quality of the pageant and had suggested a number of ways that the pageant can be improved, one such way is to seek participants from all the Islands of the Territory. “It was their recommendation that we actively seek participation from young ladies from our four main islands so that the 2014 queen can be a true representation of the competition in the Virgin Islands. It is a recommendation that I want the committee to take on board and actively pursue,” noted Hon Walwyn.

However there has not been any assurance that the prizes for the pageant would be bigger than those of 2013. The committees are said to be in the early stages of finalizing their plans and according to the Culture Minister they will return to the public when those plans are cemented.

See previous story published on January 26, 2014:

LL Stickett event added to 2014 Festival calendar – Hon Walwyn

EAST END/LONG LOOK, Tortola, VI – Residents of the East End/Long Look communities will now be enjoying the staging of an additional activity there this year thanks to the wise suggestion of Seventh District Representative Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering.

Dr Pickering, who is also the Deputy Premier and Minister for Labour and Natural Resources, made the recommendation on the occasion of the rededication and reopening ceremony of the Stickett in Long Look on July 24, 2013.

The new event comes even as one day has been shaved off the community’s regular three days of activities for the 2014 calendar of events.

Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn on January 21, 2014 supported the initiative recognizing the importance of culture.

“Along with the traditional Service at the Sunday Morning Well that highlights the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation on 1st August 1834, and the effect it has had on the development of these Virgin Islands. Nottingham Estate, the site of the first freed slaves in the Western Hemisphere in 1776 will be highlighted in a historical celebration at “The Stickett” in Long Look on the proposed date of Friday 25th July 2014,” said Hon Walwyn.

Coincidentally, the observance will be held nearly one year to the day after Hon. Pickering’s recommendation. While the announcement was made by the Culture Minister, it came from the recommendation of the 60th Anniversary Advisory Committee.

This group was put to advise the Minister on possible activities and plans for the milestone celebration. The committee included Hon Delores Christopher who was appointed co-chair along with Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee Mr Marvin “MB” Blyden, along with committee members Mrs Eileene L. Parsons, Mrs Jasmine Brewley, the late Mrs Corrine S. Brewley, Mrs Grace Flax-Waters, Mr Stuart Donovan, Mrs Patsy Lake, Mr Gaverson Frett, Mrs Luce Hodge-Smith, Mr Trefor Grant, Mr Kareem-Nelson Hull, Ms Moviene Fahie and Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye.

According to Hon Walwyn, the 60th Anniversary Advisory Committee worked diligently and ably accomplished their mandate when the Report: Recommendations for the 60th Anniversary of Virgin Islands Festival was submitted on October 15, 2013.

The Committee’s mandate for the 60th celebrations were to, among other things, find opportunities for celebrations to be more culturally relevant; that there is increased participation in festival, increased participation in the 60th celebration, and that they also critically examine the way festival celebrations have been conducted in the past and to make recommendations for its improvement.