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Hon Walwyn fails VG Festival again! Broken promises on outstanding funds!
It was this online news site that first and accurately broke the news in February of this year that, a month before the Virgin Gorda Festival, the committee had not received a dime from Hon Walwyn and his Festival and Fairs Committee to organise events.
Once the news broke, 48 hours later a cheque was on Speedy’s Ferry Service heading to the committee to help make the event possible.
Promised $100,000, only delivered $60,000
During that time, Hon Walwyn promised the people of Virgin Gorda and their festival sub-committee that they will be granted $100,000 for their festival, but only delivered on $60,000, according to information obtained by this news site from festival spending records.
It means now that there is a $40,000 outstanding that Hon Walwyn still has not granted and, as of post time, this means he has not kept his promise to the Virgin Gorda Festival Sub-Committee some three months after the festivities ended on March 28, 2016.
A resident of Virgin Gorda, who is not a member of the Festival Committee but who is familiar with the issue, speaking to our newsroom last week said, “I heard they even went to Dr [Hubert] O’Neal, our Representative, about the outstanding monies but so far nothing…VG is still treated like an outcast, we only see and hear Myron and the rest close to election….” the angry resident claimed.
It appears from the spending records obtained by our newsroom, that the Virgin Gorda Festival Committee kept within budget and they only have about $40,000 left in outstanding bills from the money promised to them.
No money there
When this news site called a senior source in the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee about the matter, the member refused to go on record but stated, “VINO, you know the problem is no money so why is this a story?” They then hung up the telephone.
The outstanding monies from Minister Walwyn are needed to pay outstanding bills for vendors on both Tortola and Virgin Gorda, including calypsonians, and for paying for trophies and trucking services, to name a few according to vendors calling our newsroom.
Broken promises; Pay vendors
A former Virgin Gorda Festival Committee Member, who wished for their name not to be used, said “the committee here must be given credit for staying within budget. Myron promised them $100,000 and he should be a man of his words…people need their money, it’s rough in Virgin Gorda right now…”
This year the Tortola Festival seems to be off to a bad start also, with not much enthusiasm or participation. Critics of the unpopular Education and Culture Minister said Mr Walwyn has made everything political and added to that the lack of funds. They have blasted him for wasting $1M on a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School before the 2015 general elections, monies that could have gone to schools for much needed supplies and to the Emancipation celebration.
Officials from both the Ministry of Education and the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee declined to go on record on this matter.
Chairperson of the Virgin Gorda Festival Sub-Committee, Sasha D. A. Flax and Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee, Kishma A. Baronville could not be reached for comments before publication time.
NDP left country broke
It is unclear when the Ministry of Education or the Minister will give the Virgin Gorda Festival Committee the outstanding $40,000, however, a source from the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “not sure myself, they have been calling and calling about their outstanding [money] but you know we have Tortola celebration to deal with and money remains an issue.”
The many critics of the National Democratic Party (NDP), which includes the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Opposition, the media, talk show hosts and civil society, have accused the current Government of Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith of raiding the Government Treasury to buy the 2015 elections, leaving the country broke.
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34 Responses to “Hon Walwyn fails VG Festival again! Broken promises on outstanding funds!”
sometimes it a little change is good are u on a troop?
if not what the point u making by not supporting your culture
Child be real down island people it what make BVI festival something. Look at carrot bay down island people look and cane garden bay down islands and east end
Wake up sleepy head not because we are not from here makes us bad people we help pay BVI owner mortgage by paying rent if not for us bank will go with lost of home because u try to live bey
Mr. Minister you promised those people 100,000.00. Please find the balance some how and don't even send it to them, Carry it your self. Times hard but live by your promise.
My run have a darm right to treat all yo how he want, festival these days looks more like a young people thing. During the election the young people have all the hype behind this man jumping up and down talking about youths for walwyn, where are all those young people now seems like their tongue cut out. Look at what happening now, every decision My run makes affects the young people. When a man feels his brain is bigger than everyone else's own this is what you will get in the end. Remember his brain is bigger than everyone's own so he needs not listen to anyone.