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Harrigan refutes online news article on festival troupes
This year's Emancipation celebrations are being held under the theme, ‘Diversity, Creativity and Culture like never seen, VI Festival 2016’. Whether the event can live up to the theme remains to be seen since the organising committee is said to be battling serious financial constraints to the extent that it is being said the celebration this year has been heavily scaled down.
Harrigan, while not going into much detail, told the large gathering at the Block Party on DeCastro Street in Road Town last night, July 2, 2016 that there are troupes registered for the parade this year, contrary to reports.
“I want to also encourage all of you to go into a troupe. I know that there are a lot of rumours out there but that is not so, we do have troupes signed up so we want to encourage you….this is our festival and we are going to hit the road on August Monday,” said Ms Harrigan.
This statement was virtually describing as ‘inaccurate reporting’ an article on a local online news site on June 28, 2016 which quoted a sub-chairperson of the parade committee, Ms Marecia Frett-Blyden as saying at the time that there was only one adult troupe registered.
That news site had also reported that due to the poor response to registering for troupes, the committee was forced to shift its deadline date for submission for registration from June month end to July 18, 2016.
Festival 2016 is set to get off in full swing on Monday July 25, 2016, however, according to Ms Harrigan, there are a number of other events that will take place prior. Among those are the July 9, 2016 Calypso Elimination at Myett’s Chill Zone on the Tortola Pier Park, Miss Junior BVI Pageant slated for July 10, 2016 and Water Sports, a new event at Red Bay, East End, Tortola, slated for July 17, 2016.
Another big party is set for July 15, 2016 titled “Tortola Pier Park Party on the Park – Festival edition”.
Last night’s launch Block Party was well attended and featured entertainment by DJ Dre, Relentless Band, Showtime Band, and VIBE among others.
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27 Responses to “Harrigan refutes online news article on festival troupes”
all now we the public will have a line up feeling festival in the air people wake up ministers take a stand it can affect your tourism industry big time
I think it's a great idea actually. Isn't that how the whole thing started? We'll actually save some good money in the process too.
Well, it sounds like they got one thing right. It's looking like our Culture won't be seen in 2016......PERIOD.
Some people have no sense at all!! We have so much things going on that require the people's money that if we can scale back on festival, then we should. I agree we should celebrate our freedom, but do we need an international artist to the tune of $2 million dollars and then september morning our children don't have toilet paper in school to clean themselves?! And then some of you will bitch and moan at the village gate when you have to pay $20 to go inside, and don't want to pay for your 18 yr old because he or she is still a "child"! Then on August Monday you shaking the private parts and grinding them in the street in front of people children. No l think its time to celebrate in a better way. Look at the African club festivities for ideas.
Keep the Ms BVI, ONE parade, the water sports, the children's rides, Sunday Morning Well, donkey rides, races and other such activities at different established venues territory-wide. That way each activity will have its own focus without being diluted by the villages. Maybe add some extra activities at the HLSCC, Salt Island, Anegada, JVD etc.