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VI’s 70th Emancipation Festival promoted in Atlanta!

- BVITBFC led promotion @ Atlanta Caribbean Carnival
The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITBFC) proudly promoted the 70th Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival over the Memorial Day Weekend at the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: BVITBFC
From left: Shaekhoya Matthew, Tracey Lettsome, Beverly Henry-Nurse, and Hazel Penn at the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival on May 24, 2024. Photo: BVITBFC
From left: Shaekhoya Matthew, Tracey Lettsome, Beverly Henry-Nurse, and Hazel Penn at the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival on May 24, 2024. Photo: BVITBFC
Visitors at the BVITBFC booth at Atlanta Caribbean Carnival on May 24, 2024. Photo: BVITBFC
Visitors at the BVITBFC booth at Atlanta Caribbean Carnival on May 24, 2024. Photo: BVITBFC
ATLANTA, Georgia, USA- The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITBFC) proudly promoted the 70th Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival over the Memorial Day Weekend at the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival in Atlanta, Georgia.

The team from the BVITBFC headed by Ms Shaekhoya Matthew, Business Development Manager (BDM) for the region, with support from Ms Hazel Penn, BDM for the Midwest and Canada region, attended three of the weekend’s events.  They shared information on the VI with over 7500 carnival attendees at the J’ouvert on May 24, 2024, at Donald Lee Howel Parkway, the Parade and Village at Westside Park, and at the Caribbean Fuzion Picnic at Southlake Mall (The District). 

At the Carnival Village, the VI team offered samples of VI culture with delicacies such as Johnny Cakes, saltfish cakes, patties, passion fruit juice and the Painkiller Cocktail.  These treats were prepared by Derrik Bartley, a VIslander residing in the Atlanta area, who is the owner of Dah Weeken Grill restaurant.

‘Overwhelmingly positive’ response

 According to a press release from BVITBFC, the VI team’s presence at these events was met with great enthusiasm and interest from many members of the [British] Virgin Islands and Caribbean diaspora as well as new clients, all eager to visit the VI to experience the rich cultural celebrations of the Emancipation Festival. 

"Our goal was to connect with the community in Atlanta and share the vibrant and unique experiences that the Emancipation Festival offers," said Ms Shaekhoya Matthew. "The response was overwhelmingly positive, and we are thrilled by the number of people interested in visiting the British Virgin Islands."

‘More interest in visiting’ VI created- Clive L. McCoy

 Commenting on the BVITBFC’s attendance at the event, Director of Tourism Clive L. McCoy said, “Promoting the Territory through events is one of our strategies for marketing the destination and we thought it was fitting to promote this year’s milestone event in an area where so many of the BVI diaspora resides.  Through this activation we have reached beyond the diaspora and have created more interest in visiting the Territory.”

 The Emancipation Festival, which commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British Virgin Islands, is a significant cultural event featuring music, dance, food, and historical reenactments. This year, which marks the 70th anniversary of the emancipation festival and the 190th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Virgin Islands, promises a plethora of activities that celebrate the heritage and history of the islands.

10 Responses to “VI’s 70th Emancipation Festival promoted in Atlanta!”

  • Anonymous (03/06/2024, 06:35) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
    Let's wait to hear crazy Cindy saying this is a waste of money
    • Howdy (03/06/2024, 07:37) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
      I don’t understand what the tourism guys are doing - although obviously it would have been an opportunity for first class travel, five star hotels, and a healthy Daily Cash allowance. The festival is more embarrassing that the state of our roads - surely we should be keeping quiet about it and not publicizing it.
    • Warrant (03/06/2024, 09:34) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      The warrant required the police to arrest Cindy and bring her to Court on a particular date in the future - it did not prevent them from arresting her before that date and keeping her locked up until that date.
  • Wow. Wow. (03/06/2024, 06:39) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    All them young girls who know nothing about Festival..Some more maturity and experience in Festival would have been nice..We have ladies like Kisma B. Sandra W. Chicken S. Donald. F Lenette H. Sister J. These would have been 6 of my 12 member team.
  • Big Richard (03/06/2024, 07:26) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    The monies spent would sure fill some pot holes
  • WTF (03/06/2024, 08:58) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    That was a waste of money and time. Where is the Festival entertainment line up to be advertised globally so that people will see what we are offering. Atlanta has Johnny cakes and patties. This was the best the Natalio government had to offer to promote our Festival? We are really on the move going full speed backward with this government. This is an embarrasment
  • VOTER6BVI (03/06/2024, 10:50) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
    SOME OF YOU HATE THIS GOVERNMENT SO MUCH SO DON'T MATTER WHAT THIS GOVERNMENT DOES GOOD OR BAD YOU STILL GOING TO HATE EVERYTHING IT DOES. CRAB MENTALITY SOME OF YOU BE.
  • Funny (03/06/2024, 13:11) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Didn’t know Atlanta was considered “Canada and the Midwest.” Just another excuse for more people to go party on tax money!
  • Shamed BVIslander (03/06/2024, 15:52) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Them marketing to bring people here with no water! SMH, make it make sense as most nights water is off before the sun goes down. VIP Government should be ashamed of themselves spending unnecessary money on bullshit and wont fix the water which is a necessity.
  • black bird (04/06/2024, 09:13) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    when I read this article and look at the effort being put into bringing visitors to our shores I am so saddened. Out attitude stinks towards expatriates. Some of the same ones who we lure here via our promotional marketing are treated so badly if they decide to return and work! They are only good for us when they visit and spend their tourist dollars, but when they decide to work, oh no! They are not good anymore because their shelf life have expired.
    BVI please wise up and realize we are a part of a global village. Love all people and treat them as we would like to be treated.


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