Return VIF&FC 'to being a free-standing committee'- Eileene L. Parsons OBE
Festival Committee was free-standing- Parsons
Parsons, who chaired the festival committee from 1975 to 1983, was a guest on Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on Monday, July 29, 2024, when she said, "The Festival Committee was a free-standing thing. In those days we didn’t get any money from the government, we were on our own but even today, with government funding coming in, it’s still our funding...I would like to see the festival committee go back to being a free-standing committee with its chairman."
According to Parsons, the festival committee began small and eventually it was taken over by the Jaycees for a couple of years but made its way back to being "where it was".
Reviews needed for accountability & resolution of issues
In 2023, Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) questioned whether the VI Festival and Fairs Committee being dominated by volunteers was the correct structure moving forward. He hinted that reviews would have to be taken to bring more accountability and to resolve issues.
Then, in January 2024, the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands approved the transfer of the function of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee to the BVI Tourist Board.
At the time of the announcement, Premier Wheatley said the transfer of responsibilities for organising national festivals to the Tourist Board marked another step in "integrating" culture into the Virgin Islands' tourism product.
The transfer; however, did not come without disapproval from various factions of the public including the Opposition, who claimed the proper legislative framework was not being followed.
The Premier denied accusations that the proper legal channels were not being followed and said the necessary legislative changes would be made soon.
Fundraising in days gone by
Ms Parsons did agree; however, that with receiving any type of funding there needs to be accountability.
The cultural icon and former legislator said in days gone by a number of young men and women would volunteer their time to prepare food for sale. Among them was the now Leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL).
"The Friday night we go on the field, we sell chicken legs and we have people, those fellas were honest to a fog and I can say now…we used to leave the field with Schaefer and Heineken boxes filled with American money," she said.
Ms Parsons added that the people used to support the efforts of the committe as they looked forward to the Friday nights.
"I am saying with no fear that the Festival Committee has no [place] being under any other board," Parsons reiterated.
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17 Responses to “Return VIF&FC 'to being a free-standing committee'- Eileene L. Parsons OBE”
BVI government take over!
What’s going on.
Multiple entertains give them a do a fundraiser kiddies fesita, fish fry, pre parties...keep the main act plus two nightly
Furthermore, we are in a new era of improve emancipation celebration with new generations and though old cannot be totally discarded it must be blended with the new without losing the purpose and intent of the celebration . The Festival committee should be managed by a rotating ad hoc committee, retaining some corporate history.