RT contractors allege theft of materials for festival booths

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Contractors in the Road Town area have been hit by a series of thefts of materials on construction sites recently, which they allege are used for the construction of booths for the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival.

The 71st Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival is currently ongoing and will culminate on August 9. The festival each year sees the erection of temporary booths.

Speaking anonymously with Virgin Islands News Online on Sunday, July 20, 2025, one contractor said, “This isn’t the first time this has happened. Once festival time coming up they knock up the booths for shows.”

While unable to say for sure, he said, it points to a “really good assumption” that this is what is happening.

He added that he is coming forward in hopes that once it is made public, those responsible will do better.

“They have to do better,” the contractor said.

Almost $4000 worth of material stolen

What was shocking to learn was the quantity of materials stolen from the site.

“If you understand what a bundle of 2x4 is, close to $4000 worth of materials,” he told us, adding, “It’s either you have individuals telling booth owners they can build their booths for a certain amount of money, or it’s the booth owners themselves coming to take the materials.”

Tortola, he lamented, used to be a “real quiet place with respectable people”, quickly adding that he is not placing blame on any specific class in society but said they are those “trying to make a quick dollar”.