MIXED REVIEWS FOR FESTIVAL 2000
Many, for more than one reason, would remember BVI Festival 2000. Some would recall a top notch local calypso show, a first class international calypso show, the first local/international reggae night, the night when the Queen contestant allegedly lost some of her accessories, a disappointing August Monday parade and most certainly a fatality in The Village.
The general consensus would be however, that this year saw the hosting of another successful annual festival in the British Virgin Islands. Under the theme, "BVI Culture on Display for Festival Y2K", activities kicked off on Sunday July 23rd with the Miss Glamorous Lady Pageant and continued through to the grand finale in East End/Long Look on Wednesday August 9th. While most of the activities were held at Ishma's Culture Ville (the A.O.Shirley Recreation Grounds), a new feature adorned the Waterfront, where the parade and the aquatic sports were held. Thanks to the creativity of Ms. Claudette Francis, revelers and others had the privilege of being able to enjoy the festivities from the vantage point of some specially-made benches strategically placed in the area.
This was the third year the government-appointed Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) spearheaded the hosting of the festival. Ms. Corinne Brewley was thrown into the hot seat as Chairperson just two days before festival started, following the dismissal of the Honourable Eileene Parsons as Minister responsible for Culture. It is not surprising that she managed to pull off a successful event, being as she is a veteran in this area. Ms. Brewley brought out her first troupe in 1975 and continued to do so successfully for the next 20 years. After a two-year break, she returned to the arena as Chairperson of the Entertainment Committee. In a post-festival interview with The Island Sun newspaper, she recalled that planning meetings for the 2000 festival began back in February, when they were advised on the various roles they were expected to play. All of their plans did not materialize, as three fundraisers planned were not successful. However, the business community rose to the challenge and contributed significantly to the staging of the various activities.
There was one very disappointing aspect of the festival for the new Chairperson. "The support of the community in certain areas, particularly the parade, was NOT good," she declared. "I am very upset that the public did not participate in the parade, particularly the young people." She noted that they came out by the thousands for the rise and shine and early morning tramp and wondered why some of these same young people couldn't make the effort to be a part of the parade. Ms. Brewley intends to personally go into the schools, particularly the High School, to round up a troupe of about 250-300 students to take part in the 2001 August Monday parade, using the popular Jam Band to provide the music. She said if this effort is not successful, she would attempt to organize a floupe (a mixture of troupe and a float) or a few floats. "But one way or the other, the parade is going to be better, once I'm able to assist". She expects the Education Department to assist with organizing the students from the Primary Schools. "I have already started to put a troupe committee in place to assist the various groups with ideas. We want to get back Indians, clowns, majorettes, the Queen's float and mocko jumbies back into the parade and a couple of nice floats for those who don't really want to be in the hot sun," projected Ms. Brewley.
The winners in the 2000 August Monday parade are floats: 1st - Salute to BVI Rum Makers (Heritage Dancers), 2nd - Stop the Violence (Royal Virgin Islands Police Force) and 3rd - Rotary Club; troupes: 1st - CITCO Limbo Dancers and 2nd - My Beloved Virgins; best floupe - Jackass Transportation; best children's troupe - Touch of Bloom and visiting troupe: 1st - Infernos and 2nd - Hawks Cowboy & Cowgirls. The highlight of the festival was definitely the International Calypso, according to a random survey. It was very well supported and the artists were exceptionally good. This year's local calypso show was really a vast improvement. The chairperson worked along with calypsonians from the eliminations to the finals and should be commended. The reggae night this year was a first and from the crowd support was a hit. Special mention must be made of local artists Quito & The Edge who gave a splendid performance. According to the Festival Committee Chairperson, there were two evenings that the community did not support and she was very displeased. She contends that the public has been fussing that the Committee does not support local.
This was the idea behind the Virgin Gorda and the Tortola Sound Explosions. There were four bands from each island in The Village, but they were poorly supported by their fans. Ms. Brewley went on to mention two unfortunate incidents that occurred throughout the festival, relating to the death of 19-year old Nicholas Hodge and the alleged disappearance of some of the accessories for one of the Queen contestants. "The Committee is saddened by this unfortunate situation and our condolences go out to the members of the family, particularly the mother, Mrs. Sandrene Donovan. We would like to express our words of comfort." Regarding the incident with the Ms. BVI Contestant, she said: "I'm still not sure what happened....It was an unfortunate situation."
Generally, the Chairperson told The Island Sun while there is room for improvement, she was very pleased with the end result of the festival and the support of the public. She announced that suggestion boxes would be placed in various locations for the whole month of September, so that residents can submit their views, opinions and suggestions and say how they are willing to participate in making BVI festival bigger and greater. "I want to remind the public that we are a volunteer group and help is always needed and anybody who has expertise in any area, we would welcome your assistance". The inter-denominational service at the Sunday Morning Well was held on Sunday August 6th. Pastor Claude Cline was the guest speaker. Referring to the East End/Long Look festival, Ms. Brewley noted that the cultural day, which was started last year, also improved tremendously and the Wednesday morning rise and shine tramp lived up to its expectation of being the biggest and the best. A meeting of the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee was held Tuesday night to have wrap up session. Ms. Brewley said their main concern was to ensure that all bills are met. "We intend to make a conscious effort to ensure that all bills are paid in a timely manner, so that we can have the books done and turned into the Ministry very early". She said the meeting was also called to say thanks to the various Chairpersons.
For his part, Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal patronized several of the activities, including the festivities in East End/Long Look and Carrot Bay. He was pleased with the events at Carrot Bay, but expressed disappointment at the poor participation in the parade in the east, with only two or so troupes participating. This raised the question of whether this young nation can afford to continue to have a public holiday on August Wednesday. "It is a matter that we have to consider seriously," he stated. The Chief Minister also mentioned that one should not forget the real meaning of the festival celebrations and emphasize more the cultural life of the country. "I think, like the Jews, we should commemorate this occasion also, the first Monday in August, by more prayer and thanksgiving...We should just not only jump up behind a band in the street. That is not the culture of the BVI."