Don’t destroy VG Easter Festival– Bernice Sprauve
“Somehow I got lost in the shuffle and I never dreamed that would ever become reality for me. But I was pleasantly surprised when I received a call to the effect. The only thing that came to mind was ‘Lord, did you saved me for the golden jubilee?’ You are indeed a God of miracles,” Mrs Bernice Sprauve said in delight.
The 50-year-old festival is credited as the longest event existing on Virgin Gorda and is said to have been a major role in keeping the people who reside there together as one. However, the cries of the Christian community continue to get louder as they claim the celebrations is one of unholy revelry during a holy season.
Easter is said to be the most sacred time for Christians because of the death and resurrection of their Jesus the Christ. And Christians throughout the territory have been appealing to government to intervene to have the festivities at Virgin Gorda shifted. This year Christians at Virgin Gorda held a grand concert on the night of Good Friday and refused to have it listed in the Easter Festival calendar of events.
Don’t destroy it
However, on the opening night of Festival, April 15, 2017, in her usual soft yet profound tone, honouree Mrs Bernice Sprauve appealed for the annual Easter celebration to be preserved and continued without resentment as she said she is very happy that the festival is part of the territory’s calendar of seasonal cultural observances.
“Those humble beginnings transformed into what we are experiencing today, and it speaks volumes. Lots of people living and departed have made a huge contribution to this event. So it is our duty to preserve it. This will not be an easy task at times, but with the cooperation of people and the government we will have a grand legacy to pass on to future generations.”
“It (idea of festival) was considered to be a good idea, and a committee was formed. The committee and the community rallied together and made it a reality,” Sprauve said before she opened the festival by cutting a symbolic ribbon stretched across the stage.
Tagging residents of the territory as ‘intelligent’ she further appealed, “It is our duty to pass the baton free of rancor or any action that will destroy it.”
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