The 2013 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival Village is to be named after Ira Oliver Skelton Snr. Photo: VINO

These dancers gave an early feel of 2013 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO

VI Showtime was in the house to offer entertainment and had the audience shaking to its music. Photo: VINO

Miss Teen BVI 2013 Kamyce Penn sings the Territorial Song. Photo: VINO

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee, Marvin Blyden, wants to make entry for the Soca Night of the 2013 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival free of cost. Mr Blyden said the committee will be holding a telethon on the radio stations where persons can pledge $20 or more and disclosed that once the response is good, he would seek to have another night free. Photo: VINO

The Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee officially kicked off the 2013 Emancipation Festival with a grand launch event at La Piazza, Prospect Reef on May 31, 2013. Image: supplied

The 2013 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival was launched at La Piazza, Prospect Reef on Friday May 31, 2013

Skelton Snr., who was described as one of the longest serving members of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee, said he didn’t have much to say but he would like to see “the simple things” done for the festival. “Zero tolerance, no fighting, no mishaps and keep the budget to what we agree for.”

Earlier, Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee, Marvin ‘MB’ Blyden had expressed disappointment with the turnout at the launch. “I thought by now it would have had a lot of people but that is the same thing that does happen. Everybody get aside and say that we not doing a fundraiser but it is very hard to fund raise in the BVI because every time we try to do something it is conflicting with something else, and when we do get something, everybody finds somewhere else to go,” Mr Blyden asserted.

Meanwhile, possible line-up for the various shows include for Road Town: Kes the Band, Etana, Tony Rebel and Iwer George.

The artistes that are being looked at for the Carrot Bay Festival are Baby Sham, Rock City, Destra, and 17 Plus Reunion.

East End could expect Explainer, Winston Soso, Eric Donaldson and much more, said Public Relations Manager for the Festival Committee, Lynette Harrigan, who emphasised that the artistes are not confirmed as yet.

A few changes were announced including that this year will see a Soca Monarch competition on July 21, 2013 and that the Children’s Parade will now be held on a Wednesday and moved from East End Long Look. “This move is a new movement for us and we would like to get everybody on board,” Mr Blyden stated.

Every Friday night, which is one week from today, there will be a fundraiser by the festival bar.

This year will also see the return of water sports on August Tuesday and will be held in the vicinity of the Queen Elizabeth II Park.

There was also the surprise announcement that the Calypso Village may be entry free. “I will go into something that may get me fired because I did not discuss with my boss nor have I discussed it with my committee...I want to release a little tension in the village. I want to give us the Calypso show in the village free but everyone in the BVI will have to come on board with me, Mr Blyden stated.

On July 2, he said, the Committee will be having a telethon that will combine all the radio stations to allow everyone in the Virgin Islands to call in and pledge 20 dollars or more. “If I get enough revenue I will give up another night, Mr Blyden stated.

See previous article posted on May 31, 2013

Festival Village to be named after Ira Oliver Skelton Snr - Chairman Blyden

Kes the Band, Tony Rebel, Iwer George, Destra & Rock City among the artistes being looked at!

The 2013 Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival Village is to be named after Ira Oliver Skelton Snr, according to Chairman of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC), Marvin 'MB' Blyden.

The announcement was made this evening, May 31, 2013 as the Festivals and Fairs Committee officially kicked off the 2013 Emancipation Festival with a grand launch event at La Piazza, Prospect Reef.

One of the surprise announcements of the evening, was that the Committee Chairman intends to make entry for the Soca Night event free.

Chairman Marvin Blyden said the committee will be holding a telethon on the radio stations where persons can pledge $20 or more. The Chairman disclosed that once the response is good, he would seek to have another night free for the event.

Possible lineup for the various shows include for Road Town: Kes the Band, Etana, Tony Rebel and Iwer George.

The artistes that are being looked at for the Carrot Bay Festival are Baby Sham, Rock City, Destra, and 17 Plus Reunion.

East End could expect Explainer, Winston and much more, said Public Relations Manager for the Festival Committee, Lynette Harrigan, who emphasised that the artistes are not confirmed as yet.

This year’s Emancipation Festival is celebrated under the theme “Looking back at 175 years of being fully free – Our Culture, Our Heritage and Virgin Islands History”. The slogan is “2013 Festival Virgin Islands Style – Celebrate Freedom with Territorial Pride”.

More details to follow.