Residents and visitors to the Territory will celebrate the 2020 Emancipation Festival celebration virtually and physically from July 31 to August 5.

Mister Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to update the people of the Virgin Islands on the plans for a 2020 Emancipation Festival.  Many persons in the community have been questioning whether this would ever be a reality due to the complications caused by COVID-19.  I can reassure the fine people of this Territory that there will never be a time while I am sitting in this Ministerial seat that we will not celebrate our emancipation from slavery in some way, shape, or form.  Our ancestors worked too hard for too long and went through too much to be ignored.

I thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to make a statement on Festival and Fairs.

Mr. Franklin Walters has been selected as the new Chairman of the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Sub-Committee.

The public is invited to a community meeting at the Village Cafe on Virgin Gorda on Wednesday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m. 

Mr. Speaker, since taking office and appointing a Festival and Fairs Committee to plan this year’s activities, I have been sounding the same refrain that we must celebrate our heritage and culture, give opportunities to our local cultural artisans, and to be fiscally responsible.  Based on those criteria, we have had successes and opportunities for improvement.

A delegation is representing   the Territory at the Annual Caribbean Festival of Arts CARIFESTA XIV being held in Trinidad and Tobago.

Mister Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to update the people of the Virgin Islands on the plans for our emancipation festival activities, which are progressing well.

In anticipation of the 65^th Annual Emancipation Celebrations, the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Parade (VIFF) Sub-committee in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee will be hosting a Celebratory Dinner under the theme: -“Honouring all generations: Let’s commemorate the 65^th Emancipation Celebration.”

The public is asked to note that the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee has extended its deadline to Friday, April 12 for the submission of entries for the BVI Emancipation Festival’s 2019 theme and slogan competitions.