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VIF&FC Chairman distances self from East End 'party truck' scandal

-Dirk L. Waters says he did not hire truck nor persons performing on truck
Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), Mr Dirk L. Walters has distanced himself from a brewing party truck scandal in the East End/Long Look community where some residents of the community are reportedly upset with the performers on the truck. Photo: Facebook
Dirk L. Walters slammed residents and others in the area whom he said are making insinuations about him and his alleged involvement in the project, and added that it was the District Representative Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) who was directly involved in the project. Photo: VINO/File
Dirk L. Walters slammed residents and others in the area whom he said are making insinuations about him and his alleged involvement in the project, and added that it was the District Representative Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) who was directly involved in the project. Photo: VINO/File
EAST END, Tortola, VI – Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), Mr Dirk L. Walters has distanced himself from a brewing party truck scandal in the East End/Long Look community where some residents of the community are reportedly upset over not being able to select the performers on the truck.

Mr Walters in a Facebook video posting this morning, August 8, 2023, called out a resident identified only as ‘Mr Penn’ for reportedly circulating a voice note stating that he, Walters, has an agenda to destroy the East End community.

Walters said the party truck scandal stems from a poster for an East End Party Truck for the East End J’ouvert, that featured artists and performers that were not selected by some members of the community.

“I want to re-iterate to every single person out here… whether it's East End, whether is J’ouvert, whether it's Rise and Shine. I do not book or hire any band, entertainer, artiste, or otherwise,” he said.

“I was not the person to hire any of these entertainers for this party truck that is one on the road for East End J’ouvert, Hon Marlon Penn himself was involved in that… I was not involved,” he claimed.

I was not involved in hiring - Walters 

Walters slammed residents and others in the area whom he said are making insinuations about him and his alleged involvement in the project, “Hon Marlon Penn personally was instrumental in [and] even calling around putting this together, so this is the elected representative of the 8th district personally,” he said in the rant.

“and now you got persons from his community talking about Dirk Walters trying to destroy East End?” he further questioned.

Mr Walters in his Facebook video, however, said moving forward, persons across the various districts in consultation with the Elected District Representatives can propose events and initiatives, and the VIF&FC once given the directive, will fund and promote events, but he will not directly get involved in the planning of events and projects.

Efforts to contact Mr Walters for more details proved futile, however, our news center will bring more information as it becomes available. 

30 Responses to “VIF&FC Chairman distances self from East End 'party truck' scandal”

  • Okay now (08/08/2023, 16:17) Like (8) Dislike (10) Reply
    Marlon has challenges with the truth so wait for his non-factual response.
  • My Take (08/08/2023, 16:18) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    Everything Marlon is involved in always have confusion, and when it happens, he has a gift to get away with blaming others.
  • NDP Supprter in District 3 (08/08/2023, 16:20) Like (10) Dislike (33) Reply
    The sooner my NDP remove Marlon as Head of the NDP then the better for the party. The guy is not someone who can be trusted, and he does not tell the truth at any time.
  • Thing to talk (08/08/2023, 16:22) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    Dirky did the right thing to call out that snake in the grass.
  • Relax (08/08/2023, 16:23) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
    This is just a way for Marlon to get his hand on piece of the money spent for festival.
  • D8-LMAO (08/08/2023, 16:24) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope Mr. Walters is strong enough to handle the comeback lash from Marlon. LMAO.
  • no surprise (08/08/2023, 16:27) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    No surprise here as anything involving marlon penn can only involve lies, mischief, and chaos. After all this is how he operates in life, in the House of Assembly, and in the NDP as the head of the party. However, when he speaks, he portrays himself as the victim and everyone is out to get him for no reason. What a guy!
  • Pls. Stop blaming Dirk. (08/08/2023, 16:32) Like (16) Dislike (8) Reply
    This is not on Dirky. Though Dirk is a disappointment. Since he got power he gone silent on the things he used to fight for and now he is at the helm the same things happening.However. This is on the Premier. I had a conversation with a long serving member of the East End Long Look festival committee who blame the Premier for disrespecting them, not engaging them and no showing the interest in keeping the culture alive in a district that he grew up and represent.. The Premier is the boss. This is his district.. The East End Committee being doing a Marvellous Job for over 20yrs. As a matter a fact the East End - Long Look Festival committee is more experience and competent that the one in Town. They would have run the whole thing better... Why shut them out.?
  • True colors (08/08/2023, 16:35) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    Some of you believe Myron is the dangerous person in NDP and cannot be trusted but he is nothing compared to Lorna and Marlon. Time will reveal ALL! Myron stay awoke!
  • Madussa (08/08/2023, 16:37) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ya Dah Ya Dah Ya Dah. All of you need to grow up!
  • East Ender (08/08/2023, 16:47) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    As far as I know I don't care about this rubbish this party truck. Marlon Penn the representative for the past 12 years should be ashamed of himself to let the East End Festival slipped from under his feet down to nothing. East End has a long tradition of having its own Festival Queen show, Sunday beach picnic, Calypso Review on Monday night, the late Kendoy Penn Soca Monarch show on Tuesday night, the big East End Rise and Shine Tramp through Long Look, East End and Beef Island to the bridge and back to the village on Wednesday morning and in the afternoon the grand parade from Chapel Hill to the village. Now it all gone.
  • rattie (08/08/2023, 16:50) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    Yes Dirk tell them like it is; call out that devil Smurf
  • I'm disappointed (08/08/2023, 17:54) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    The route is too short. They need to start from YEP in fat hogs bay to the beach. From the post office to the beach is no distance at all. It is too short for the party. Town starting to kill east jouvert now.
  • question (08/08/2023, 19:52) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is premier responsible as the minister of finance to fund festival. We should ask Mr. Walters why East End no longer has a village and no internnational artist and why carrot bay has no international artist. Everything went to town.

    It is carrot bay committee decided to keep their festival culutral event alive.
    • answer (10/08/2023, 09:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ain't like ya'll does come East End village to support any ways. The same Morgan Heritage that was in Road Town this year was in East End some years back and the turn out was not the same...
  • 2023 (08/08/2023, 20:09) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    in times like these we still busy chiselling away at our own people while the milk-man is back in our home
  • enough (08/08/2023, 20:35) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Since when the community picks the band smh.
  • ... (08/08/2023, 23:05) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    last good east end jouvert was honk yah horn...wuk up fast in yah MS
  • Mike Larry (08/08/2023, 23:30) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dirky, i dont believe you. Mehson I even try call you on the phone after we talk and you aint pick up my boy. So whats up w that?
  • Drift season (09/08/2023, 00:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    All the leaders drifting, Drift.
  • !!!!!!!! (09/08/2023, 00:37) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Well let he stay town rubbish those ladies have no clothes all their parts showing you right Mr. Penn
  • smh (09/08/2023, 08:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    All of you are ridiculous in these comments. The festival and fairs committee obviously didn’t had nothing planned for east end Jouvert. East end Jouvert has been the most anticipated Jouvert for years. They was going to do nothing, Marlon tried to organize something to at least keep something alive in East End, because it seems village up there is no more. Ayo complain about everything, ayo sickening in this place. Always find a fault in everything! Who is to be blamed for east end festival to be non existent?
  • resident (09/08/2023, 10:24) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is why heads of govt and organisations resign when there is a scandal or major incident. The blame falls on THE TOP. The leader of any organization should know EVERYTHING that's happening. They should hold regular meetings with their sub committees to be abreast of what is happening. If there are problems, they assist in working out solutions. The F&F committee should have begun preparations months ago. Sub committees should have been formed and given their agenda. Everything should have been ironed out by June the latest. Giving a little time for problems that might pop up before the middle of July. The leader should also have been holding sessions with tourist board and the govt as well as other stake holders on ALL decisions made. Information should have been shared to the geneneral public timely. After all it was the poor tax payers who were helping to fund this activity. It is CLEAR that the F&F committee dropped the ball on many important decisions as complaint after complaint were aired in the media. Someone owes this territory an apology for this excuse for a festival. Let's hope that the 70th is managed by more competent people. Start next month to plan.
    • Dead Festival (10/08/2023, 03:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ resident, to be honest out of all the comments, yours is the only sensible one I read.
  • ... (09/08/2023, 10:34) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ban da ski mask thing before it get out of hand
  • the way it is (09/08/2023, 11:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The two of them have certain things in common. No credibility, allow power to get to them heads, like confusion and like to twist stories to suit themselves. Six of one and half a dozen of the other when it’s said and done.


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