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OMG allegedly snubbed by Jouvert Sub-Committee; Out of Rise & Shine Tramp

OMG Band has been left out of the Rise and Shine Tramp for the 2023 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival. Photo: Facebook
OMG is owned by Elmore E. Conner Jr 'aka' Ricky, and was founded in 2014. Since being founded, they have participated in all Rise and Shine events. Photo: Facebook/File
OMG is owned by Elmore E. Conner Jr 'aka' Ricky, and was founded in 2014. Since being founded, they have participated in all Rise and Shine events. Photo: Facebook/File
MAYERS, Tortola, VI- There seems to be another controversy looming over the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival, this time over which bands will be on the road for the 2023 August Monday (August 7) Rise and Shine Tramp.

According to a member of OMG, speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online on condition of anonymity, their band was snubbed.

The OMG member explained that usually every year there is a meeting with all the bands and the police as to the protocol involving the lineup and other pertinent issues for the popular Rise and Shine event; however, to their knowledge, no meeting was held this year. They then said they heard commercials on the radio for the bands that had been booked to participate in the Rise and Shine event. OMG then reached out immediately to the Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Mr Dirk L. Walters and Vice Chairman Mr Birchfield B. Lettsome 'aka' DJ Bertrum.

They reportedly reached Mr Walters and he asked them to reach out to the Sub-Committee Chairpersons for the Rise and Shine Tramp as Mr Walters appeared to be surprised no contract was made. OMG said all phone calls to the Jouvert Sub-Committee Chair and the Deputy Chair of the VIF&FC went unanswered. The band members then reportedly placed their concerns in writing in an Email to Mr Walters.

Given the runaround?

The band OMG noted they followed all instructions given and then tried again to reach out to other members of the Festival Committee but all calls went unanswered. So, as of publication time, OMG will not be on the road for the Rise & Shine Tramp and no reason, according to OMG, was given why this year they will not be allowed to participate.

A Member of OMG noted; however, that someone from the Festival Committee reached out to a band member whose Email address was not on the contact email sent to the VIF&FC so he was not in a position to make a decision at the time. In a Facebook post, OMG noted that “to date we have been ignored and given the run around by the VIF&FC.”

Mr Walters confirmed to our newsroom that when he got wind of the issue, he reached out to Mr Jevaughn J. Parsons aka 'JJ' of OMG and directed him to contact the Chairperson of the Rise and Shine Sub-Committee.

He said he has no idea what transpired since then, but emphasied that it was he who reached out to OMG and not the other way around as is being said by OMG.

The VIF&FC Chairman made it clear that he does not involve himself with booking bands for anything.

OMG is owned by Elmore E. Conner Jr 'aka' Ricky, and was founded in 2014. Since being founded, they have participated in all Rise and Shine events.  

12 Responses to “OMG allegedly snubbed by Jouvert Sub-Committee; Out of Rise & Shine Tramp”

  • jack (07/08/2023, 01:11) Like (12) Dislike (6) Reply
    Omg more drama
    • OMG is Right. (07/08/2023, 05:28) Like (34) Dislike (2) Reply
      This committee gets a "D" for communication. an "E" for oppressing shutting out the world and our sick and shutting at home With their no streaming rules, I can watch every other country show from home except ours, of - course we expect a dumb excuse as usual. Changes needed.. For me personally, it was too many paid nights in this hard times..
  • ... (07/08/2023, 02:17) Like (4) Dislike (12) Reply
    Them is trash ant how probally tryi g pay mic love
  • Nasty Leader or festival (07/08/2023, 03:36) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's sad how the leaders of festival think they own the government's purse and everybody. Dirt Worthless and his cronies keep attacking and firing shots at others. But time will tell.
  • Ricky Rose (07/08/2023, 03:44) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    OMG dis serious. Ah wonder if Vio playing? Who cares anyway. Look out for me, first truck. Rainbow brite. Fellas let we do dis ting!
  • Real Talk (07/08/2023, 09:39) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    My lord there de go again ego ego ego bunch of idiots on that festival committe from jost to anegada may god grace be with you all
  • Funny (07/08/2023, 09:58) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    they were asked and didn't say yes, what more is there?
  • RedStorm (07/08/2023, 10:14) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    I was wondering who chooses the decorations for the festival. Two weeks ago I drove into town and saw pink flags in the midst of the decorations,light green and yellow then I realized they flying the wrong flag, there is no black colors in their flags. I wonder who now is wearing the straight jackets.
  • Really (07/08/2023, 12:37) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    Last year you all did the same thing to the band that took you all place. Why didn't you all talk them, he's a Hippocrate. What you did to them Just happen back to you. That band was supposed to play last year Jouvet and OMG played instead without any warning so when he's crying now.
  • omg (07/08/2023, 14:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    WE WERE LOOKING SMOKE
  • omg (07/08/2023, 16:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are completely wrong!
  • dots (13/08/2023, 09:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we are sticking with OMG, let the festival committee make their bed and lie in it. ;)


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