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.