Festival Committee should not be under any Board — Parsons

Cultural icon and former legislator Eileene Parsons has joined the chorus of people who argue that the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee (VIFFC) should not have been transferred to the BVI Tourist Board.

The Committee was controversially transferred to the BVI Tourist Board earlier this year, and Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley explained at the time that a motion in the House of Assembly would follow to ratify that decision. In contrast to claims by Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn, the Premier has remained adamant that the decision was not illegal and has insisted that the transition required some time to be completed.

“I am saying it without fear that the Festival Committee has no call being under any other board,” Parsons argued during an appearance on the Talking Points radio show on ZBVI. She emphasised that she wanted the festival committee to return to a freestanding state with a chairman and proper accountability.