Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

‘We are having a festival this year!’- Kishma A.Baronville

- said VIF&FC has never rejected anyone from participating
Contrary to reports in the media and other quarters, Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Kishma A. Baronville said this year's road parade is on as the committee has received 'several' entries. Photo: VINO/File
Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Kishma A. Baronville (2nd from left) was one of the guests on the Morning Ride Show with Paul 'Gadiethz' Peart (right) on July 19, 2016. Photo: Sound Cloud
Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Kishma A. Baronville (2nd from left) was one of the guests on the Morning Ride Show with Paul 'Gadiethz' Peart (right) on July 19, 2016. Photo: Sound Cloud
Persons line the roadway along Waterfront Drive awaiting the troupes to pass during the 2015 Festival Parade. Photo: VINO/File
Persons line the roadway along Waterfront Drive awaiting the troupes to pass during the 2015 Festival Parade. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “There has been this concept that the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee has not been working and that we weren’t going to pull off a festival which is a fallacy in itself so we just want to say that we are having a festival this year and it is a grand festival.”

These were the firm words of Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Kishma A. Baronville, while a guest on the Morning Ride Show aired on ZROD 103.7 FM on July 19, 2016.

There have been reports in the media and in other quarters that the VIF&FC was struggling to get participation in activities this year, including the festival parade.

Baronville, however, rejected those assertions.

“Our parade is going to be a grand event contrary to the publication that went out. But we do have several entries and we just want to say to the public that you are welcomed to join in all the activities and we must remember that this is our national event, this is our festival and the public’s participation is what makes it even greater.”

No one is rejected

Host of the show, Mr Paul ‘Gadiethz’ Peart said some members of the Guyanese Association of the BVI had expressed some concerns to him about other nationalities' participation in Emancipation Festival being frowned upon. Persons have in the past expressed a concern that allowing more expats in the festival would not portrait a ‘true Virgin Islands’ Festival. Radio talk show host, Donald E. de Castro has been one of those persons to make such a comment.

Baronville bluntly rejected that argument, saying such representation has never come from the VIF&FC but from voices within the community.

“Our festival committee has never rejected any party from participating. We realise that we have a community that has local persons, Virgin Islanders, it has persons from all walks of life, it has persons from all Caribbean islands, other continents in fact. I think we have a representation of every continent and we want to embrace that, which is why we have welcomed as many as could participate…”

The VIF&FC Chairperson added that the Virgin Islands should embrace the changes in the community. “We highlight our traditions and we respect the fact that our culture is diversified. It is something that changes but we need to put on a celebration that also reflects our traditions…Especially for the Caribbean nationals, we share the emancipation spirit and we want everyone in our community to participate.

“I know that the festival committee is one that welcomes diversity. We do understand that we have a responsibility to highlight the Virgin Islands culture and we are about that but we do know that we cannot exclude persons and we want everyone to enjoy Emancipation Festival,” Baronville said.

Virgin Islands Festival 2016 will be held from July 22 to August 6, 2016. The festival village, named after Rita Francis, will be opened on July 25, 2016.

25 Responses to “‘We are having a festival this year!’- Kishma A.Baronville”

  • cay (20/07/2016, 09:40) Like (28) Dislike (6) Reply
    More spin no one wants to participate
  • chad (20/07/2016, 09:55) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only now they trying to tell us what os suppose to happen. NDP really mash up festival.
  • simple (20/07/2016, 09:57) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Festival doesn't have money because the NDP broke the country. They have while everyone else is hurting even to Festival.
  • Most powerful Minister (20/07/2016, 10:02) Like (43) Dislike (0) Reply
    He found a million dollars to do an unbudgeted school wall that lacks transparency; he camcelled high school graduation to put in a needed but unplanned extra year calling it 6th form; he spends one hundred thousand yearly on a speech writer & so on but he can't find the money to give to festival on time although it was budgeted for. Myron & NDP has killed the BVI.
    • @ most powerful minister (20/07/2016, 13:12) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
      the most truthful blog I read in five months
    • Stopit!! (22/07/2016, 10:26) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Myron cannot spend what he is not given. He doesn't have money to spend as he chooses. In modern politics, a speech writer is necessary? Barack has one. Trump has one, even though he or she messed up Melania. Get with the times. People are always ready to call down our own. Myron is not the Minister of Finance. When he gets, then he can expend. Myron and NDP has not killed the BVI. The BVI is alive and well, such that persons come each August and refuse to leave. God bless the land of my mother's birth.
  • fact (20/07/2016, 10:07) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    If Festival was a consultant, a high level NDP crony or family, or a multimillion dollar project it would have already gotten its money and got it on time.
  • The Minister failing us. (20/07/2016, 10:17) Like (20) Dislike (4) Reply
    Lazy people. People who don't know how to work hard. People who don't have time for hard work will always fail. Create fun to raise funds. They doing nothing to help the government. Nothing to hype the thing. U need very little money to start a fun raiser if u know what u r doing. I won't blame the incompetent committee. Its the Minister that failing us.
  • zone 7 (20/07/2016, 10:18) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Poir falla and he say he want to be premier
  • lmao (20/07/2016, 10:20) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
    So Government putting more money into Festival will mean more troupes? What does the money have to do with people participating in Festival?
  • Hmm.. (20/07/2016, 10:58) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    Why would a VI parade have in other nationalities? Then it's not a VI parade... Ayo know you ain't got no participants trying to trump up excitement for a dead carnival and now trying to fill stops with others nationalities cause you all done drop the ball and no locals wants to join. Kishma should've stick to resigning, her credibility is shot dead.
  • L**s (20/07/2016, 11:03) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    the fillipinoes were dissed when they made an entry years ago.
  • Clearly (20/07/2016, 11:15) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    The lack of interest in Festival is a sign of protest against this lying, thieving, bully, vindictive NDP gang to let them & the world know that we will not allow them to enslave us again.
  • No Name (20/07/2016, 12:20) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    How many troupes???????
    • Floupe (20/07/2016, 20:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I heard 5. The Chairperson could have enlightened us. It's late already. People need to know. I personally don't do the troupe thing, but usually come out and watch. Last year I didn't leave home until 4:45pm and was still quite on time. Depending on how many troupes there are, I think I may just stay home and watch.
  • Flying (20/07/2016, 14:27) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Flying outta here....everyone who's around....enjoy!!!
  • Failed NDP Leadership! (20/07/2016, 14:34) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Festival Of What Quality?
    • Holdon! (22/07/2016, 10:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Festival is celebrating the end of them white Europeans who had us in slavery. It is not about jumping up and wucking up. So even if others have to come and read the proclamation speech, let them do that, what need to go out in the forefront is what brought about festival. I could think of ten suggestions for troupes:

      1. Depiction of the announcement of the end of slavery
      2. The church scenery at the end of announcement
      3. Party time after announcement
      4. The Wailing time after the announcement
      5. The future after the announcement...
      More...
      6.. Frolicing time...
      7. Remembering our ancestors...
      8. Depiction of the cruel slave master
      9. Going back to Africa...
      10. The Never Again pledge of slavery....
      A troupe for any man-jack.....

      It's our celebration, let all who call the Virgin Islands their home, join
      in the celebration..
  • sad to say but (20/07/2016, 14:38) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dirty politics killed the BVI along with all the contests.
    • nonsense (20/07/2016, 17:10) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
      Stop blaming politics, it's greed and nasty minded individuals that killed this country, not politicians. The politicians are just at the mercies of the same evil, who are also voters. No matter who are voted in, once these greedy leaches continue to wield their voting power the place will continue to go downhill speeding.
  • Laugh (20/07/2016, 18:03) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    He cancelled the graduation tell him to cancel the festival also . The government put money into the festival but let me say it takes a lot of time and money to get the costumes ready for the celebration. The government make money also what about departure , hotels and motels taxes and the business make money also.
  • Not from Here (20/07/2016, 18:48) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Bvi prople fool fool they let a man from antigua and another from angulla kill the bvi SMH AT YOU ALL FOOLS
  • facts man (20/07/2016, 21:02) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP don't give a Shit they are and will be getting their 8 yrs pension ,so hell with the voters they are all smiling to the bank...
  • Unwelcome (21/07/2016, 07:02) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    All these comments about who should and who shouldn't be allowed! Anyone ever been to Trinidad carnival? Yes the big one. People from ALL OVER WORLD come for that. Funny thing - all are welcomed too. People in costume from all nationalities taking to the streets together. Spending money and more money.
    But here it's us against them as usual. Broaden your horizons.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.