Golden Anniversary Edition of BVI Festival ready to go!

On the 4^th August 1834, the proclamation for the abolition of slavery in the BVI was read from the Sandbox Tree, which stood on the site of the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town.  Since then, each year British Virgin Islanders have celebrated the day to honour our freedom.

August Festival is a long-standing cultural event in the life of every Virgin Islander.  Many citizens, on a voluntary basis, have formed ad hoc committees year after year to organize the festivities.  Earlier documentation showed that an organized committee existed in the mid 1950s under the chairmanship of the then Administrator Hon H. A. C Howard.

In addition to lots of eating and drinking, festival celebrations were held in the form of picnics, dances and sporting events such as flat races and horse racing.  It was also reported that in 1922, Major Peebles suggested that a fair be held to raise funds for the building of a hospital.  This was done and from 1923 or 1924 it seems that the Anglican and Methodist Churches alternated the organization of a “ Fete on the Field” on the Old recreation Ground in Road Town.

The celebrations moved away from the traditional picnics and sporting activities and took on another organizational form in 1953 when the late Dr. Norwell Harrigan chaired a committee to observe the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  The citizens were so impressed with the forms and colours of the troupes and floats which added to the celebrations, that they asked why not have this at August Festival time?

The official activities for Road Town will kick off on Friday July 23^rd at the Eileen Parsons Heritageville.   To date some of the activities which have  taken place include, the presentation of the 2004 Miss British Virgin Islands contestants, the local calypso preliminaries, prefestival tramps and other fund raisers. 

Many persons are looking forward to the traditional August Monday Parade which is expected to be the biggest to date.  Though the number of troupes is yet to be confirmed parade entries are expected to easily surpass the participation level in year’s past.  

To reign over the parade six young ladies will compete for the title of Miss British Virgin Islands 2004 .  They include: Ms. Tameeka George, Stephanie Brewley, Anne Marie Baltimore, Tamika Burke, Sharlita Millington and Maquita Richards.  The sponsors of these young ladies include:  Popeye’s Service Station, Ocean Conversion BVI Ltd, Newton Construction,, Aqua Design ( BVI) Ltd, Skelton Group of Companies, QWOMAR Trading and the Development Bank of the Virgin Islands.

2004 will also see a reunion of former Festival Queens.  All but two are still alive.  They will be expected to make appearances at the Miss BVI Pageant, other village activities the parade and the August Tuesday Horse Races.  Two floats are expected to be included in the parade where these 48 women may be seen.   The Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee provided the below list of former Queens since 1954:

1954   Ivy Chinnery

1955   Alma Pickering

1956   Norma Pickering

1957   Linnel Abbott

1958   Ivy Creque

1959   Smyrna Pickering

1960   Gloria Pickering

1961   Pearlette Christopher

1962   Rosemarie DeCastro

1963   Wilma Malone (deceased )

1964  Alma Creque

1965  Carmen Hodge

1966  Madita Malone

1967  Sadie Sargeant

1968  Janet Pickering

1969  Delta Benjamin (deceased )

1970  Margarita Smith

1971  Rita  Kirketerp

1972  Jeannette Scatliffe

1973  Brenda Todman

1974  Maisie Flax

1975  Irene Penn (Title renamed Miss British Virgin Islands)

1976  Andria Norman

1977  Jennifer Fonseca

1978  Eartha Ferdinard

1979  Barbara Stevens

1980  Carmen Nibbs

1981  Luce Dahlia Hodge

1982  Anna Maria Joseph

1983  Donna Frett

1984  Jennifer Penn

1985 Joycelin Durante

1986  Sandy Harrigan

1987  Nelda Farrington

1988  Viola Joseph

1989  Justina Hodge

1990  Anne Lennard

1991  Alicia Burke

1992  Rhonda Hodge

1993  Delia Jon Baptiste

1994  Elaine Henry

1995  Linette Smith

1996  Melinda Penn

1997  Kaida Donovan

1998  Kamila Smith

1999  Tausha Vanterpool

2000  Shakima Stoutt

2001  Anastasia Tonge

2002  Bethsaida Smith

2003  Dian Sanderson

The village promises to be great.  There is everything from the fungi greats like the Lashing Dogs and Stanley and the , Nu Vibes, the Mighty Sparrow and Calypso Rose, Maxi Priest, Red Fox, the Mighty Chalkdust, Talpree, Iwa George, Denise Plumber and the list goes on and one.  A number of local bands and artists have produced many new and great releases as well.  Thirty booths will provide all the local delicacies and refreshments.  Additionally a coney island is also planned to provide all the thrills members of the family.  

 BVI Festival 2004 promises to be one of the GREATEST EVER!  This year we should also see results from the efforts which were undertaken by the BVI Tourist Board’s year long promotional campaigns to help promote the event.  From the US East Coast alone the numbers promise to be quite higher than usual.  Residents have been asked to open their homes and vacant apartments to help accommodate some of the visitors and numerous family members returning home for the countless unions which are planned.

This year’s festival is estimated to cost a total of $ 1 million dollars with the government committing to provide 50% of the funds required.

Information sourced from:

Honourable Eileen L. Parsons

1999 BVI Festival Magazine

Ministry of Education and Culture