Statement by Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Andrew Fahie
Tenth Sitting of the First Session of the First House Assembly of the Virgin Islands
“Update on Festival 2008”

~~Adz:Left~~ROADTOWN, Tortola-Mister Speaker, after listening to the voice of the people over the last few months, as well as taking into consideration the views expressed by the “THINK TANK” Committee that was formed on January 3rd, 2008, by yours truly, Minister of Education & Culture, it was crystal clear that more accountability and transparency in the handling and planning of our Festival celebrations was needed. 

Mr. Speaker, in addition, as recommended by the “THINK TANK COMMITTEE”, The Festival 2008 Management Board with Mrs. Carolyn O’Neal Williams as Chair, and the Festival 2008 Procurement Unit with Ms. Melissa Farrington as Chair was formally introduced to the people of the Virgin Islands just a few months ago. Mr. Speaker, the functions of these two units among other things is to mainly create for the first time in a long time a transparent financial atmosphere, in the handling and accounting of public funds allocated by Government for Festival yearly.  As well as to ensure that once again value for money becomes the norm in the handling of Festival Funds. 

Mr. Speaker, sir, I am also pleased to inform to this Honourable House that the Think Tank Committee also developed and crystallized the new vision and mission statement for Festival in these Virgin Islands.  The vision statement states and I quote:
“To preserve and protect Virgin Islands Festivals and celebrations for generations to come by providing wholesome family oriented cultural and spiritual activities that are educational and embrace historic remembrance and exuberance that fosters a sense of national pride and consciousness”. 

Mr. Speaker, the mission statement now states as follows:
“To create and develop the ultimate cultural experience through an organization that will bring accurate education information and awareness to all celebrants and spectators.”

Mr. Speaker sir, as a people we must know and respect our past heritage so that we can always appreciate and sustain our rich heritage in the future.  As a people we have always been a people with a deep faith and respect in the Great God of the Universe. 
As a result, He has blessed this country by allowing the path to be opened for us to be emancipated from slavery in August of 1834.  Mr. Speaker, contrary to popular belief, we were never given our freedom.  Our freedom came as a result of our ancestors standing up and fighting for what they believe was right and for what was their God given rights from creation which was and still is FREEDOM. 

Mr. Speaker sir, we were all born free but through our own demise and betrayals we were captured and enslaved.  Mr. Speaker sir, in addition to our rich heritage as a people, through our ancestors fighting for the freedom we enjoy today, we must recognize that if we kept our confidence in each other, and respected and continuously worked towards one common goal, we as a people through our ancestors, would have never allowed others to trick and/ or entice a few of us in assisting them in hunting our fellow brothers and sisters with the then hidden agenda of enslaving us.  Mr. Speaker, it could not have happen neither then nor now without our help. 

Mr. Speaker sir, history has vividly documented that this hidden agenda that took a short period of time to plan and implement resulted in us as a people to become physically enslaved for over 400 years.  Mr. Speaker, in a nutshell, our past has proven time after time that we are our best friends and with foreign assistance and enticement, we are also our own worse enemies. 

Mr. Speaker, the reason for highlighting this section of our history is not just because it is now the time of the year when we celebrate our emancipation from slavery, as a result of the many years of toiling and fighting by our ancestors for such freedom we enjoy today, but to highlight that we must be vigilant so as not to allow the same hidden agenda of the past to linger in our blind spots, with the sole intention of once again, in a more modern form, lead to the same result as in the past.  ~~Adz:Right~~

Mr. Speaker sir I say this solely based on my research and understanding of our well documented History of how we as a people through our ancestors were enslaved and how we as a people received our freedom which was stimulated by our fight and will to be freed.  Nothing was ever given to us but with the help of our own people, it was taken from us.  Mr. Speaker sir, one would think that we would be intelligent to learn from our past mistakes that our ancestors made that caused us to be enslaved, but Mr. Speaker, today we see old things and never changed intentions today in new and modern forms. 

Mr. Speaker, in the days of slavery, one of the biggest weapon against our people was when some of our people joined with those who were responsible for enslaving us to help in the destruction of some of their own brothers and sisters so they can get recognized and promoted to the status of “Domestic slaves”, that is also known as the “House Slave” by many.  Mr. Speaker, we all know from our history books that a House Slave was always treated differently from the other slaves. 
As a result, this caused a even further dissension among our ancestors which resulted in many innocent slaves loosing their lives due to the “House Slave” informing the then slave Master to keep an eye on certain slaves due to fear of what they could do if given the opportunity to rise and take their truthful place. 

Mr. Speaker, this information caused the slave Masters to put all their emphasis on one set of slaves with the only intention to have them destroyed by any means necessary.  Mr. Speaker, at times all the emphasis, financial resources, man power, and all the other so called godly and ungodly means to ensure, as much as they could, that the targeted group of slaves never got the opportunity to rise up and lead their fellow men towards freedom because that would jeopardize the market and livelihood of those who enslaved our ancestors.

 Mr. Speaker, from my research, I found out that so much time, emphasis, among other things, was placed on a targeted group of slaves that whatever crime or wrong doings was committed or being done by the “House Slaves”, and some other slaves, were often times left unchecked, and undisciplined.  Mr. Speaker, so much so that chaos ruled among some of the slaves until a certain group of them destroyed each other, especially the males.  Mr. Speaker, the chaos was of concerned to the other slaves that were looking on but not their Masters because the chaos that was allowed to germinate among the slaves was of no problem to the then slave Masters as long as who they despised were kept in check and eventually destroyed. 

~~Adz:Left~~Mr. Speaker, this part of our ancestors History is often not desirous of many to speak about, but Mr. Speaker when I look at how a full catastrophic Hurricane has been allowed to develop over the last seven years in my country, that was in my humble opinion continuously ignored, due to the desire to expend continuous efforts, resources, time and man power in monitoring with the view of destroying and eliminating a weather system that never existed in the manner as was initially forecasted. 

Meanwhile the dangerous and catastrophic weather system that needed urgent attention, kept on increasing in intensity until today Mr. Speaker, the winds from this catastrophic hurricane, that was ignored for years, that could have been eliminated or reduced in intensity, is now pounding and tearing at the very core of the fabric of our beautiful Virgin Islands in terms of serious and organized crime. 

Mr. Speaker, as a result, today, our males are being murdered.  Mr. Speaker, as a result, today, children are crying.  Mr. Speaker, as a result, today, mothers are crying.  Mr. Speaker, as a result, today, families are crying.  Mr. Speaker, as a result, today, the nation is crying.  Mr. Speaker, as a result, today, violence is reigning in our lands. 

Mr. Speaker, the winds of this Hurricane are now being felt; but contrary to popular belief, this weather pattern was building strength a long time now but due to emphasis, resources, man power, and other questionable means being concentrated on selected weather systems that was not a wave or even in most cases was not as originally forecasted, has brought us as a country, as a people, as a nation, to the point of concern, fear, confusion, anger, retaliation, mourning, mental exhaustion, grieving, just to name a few.  Mr. Speaker, sad to say, but factually speaking, this is the position that we as a country find our self in today, but there is hope. 

There is hope Mr. Speaker.  Mr. Speaker, despite all that has happened, been allowed to happen, yet to happen, there is hope.  Mr. Speaker it was time like these when our ancestors would have let us know that our Hope is built in nothing less than Jesus Christ’s’ righteousness.  Mr. Speaker, this country was given to us as a blessing from, God and despite what anyone thinks, despite what power anyone thinks he has, despite what forces try to dominate this country, we will rise again as one nation under God.  Mr. Speaker, just like our ancestors, we must fight for what is right.  We must fight and stand up for what we want for our country.  Mr. Speaker, we must be proactive in times like these and not reactive. 

As a result Mr. Speaker, it is this Government’s intention to make the financial resources available to ensure that we provide maximum security during this Festival season as we celebrate our emancipation of slavery.  Mr. Speaker, all Festival sites are currently being fully enclosed with the only entrance points being the main gates.  Mr. Speaker, in addition to the security being provided by our police and other law enforcements, security in terms of man power, surveillance cameras, among others are being installed and tremendously increased at every Festival site and event.  All and we mean ALL vehicles entering the Festival compounds will be searched.  Metal detectors and other technology will be on site for all attending the Festival Village and other sites holding festival related activities.

Mr. Speaker, in light of the current climate of our country an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.  We must feel and be safe while celebrating our emancipation from slavery this and every year and this Government is ensuring that the machinery is in place to ensure such.  Mr. Speaker, we realize that this initiative will increase the cost of Festival but the direct and in-direct benefits of ensuring that all stops are pulled out and no resources are speared to ensure that we have a safe, crime free Festival celebration is priceless.

~~Adz:Right~~Mr. Speaker sir, I urge us as a people to celebrate our freedom at all times in an enjoyable but yet respectful manner.  Over the years, for the most part, we have done such.  However, due to the current negative events that has plagued our country, we must rise to the challenge to stand up for what is right and best for our country to return to the tranquil environment we have worked over the years to build.  Mr. Speaker, we can do it.  Mr. Speaker, we must do it.  Mr. Speaker, starting this Festival season we shall do it. 

~~Adz:Right~~ Mr. Speaker we have been emancipated from physical slavery but in our subconscious minds through our behaviour and dependence on others to solve our problems and keep us in check, has lead us into chains that have enslaved us in our minds.  Mr. Speaker, if it is to get better it is up to you.  Mr. Speaker, if it is to get better it is up to me.  Mr. Speaker, if it is to get better it is up to each of us.  Mr. Speaker, the eyes of the future are looking back at us hoping that we get it right.  Mr. Speaker, let us not fail them.  Mr. Speaker let us take back our country and derail all the hidden agendas that seem like they are in our best interest but on close examination really is not.  Mr. Speaker, God give us this country as a blessing and He wants us and we alone to trust him and be guided by him in our attempts to bring calm, from the now intensified Hurricane from whose wins are now pounding the core of our country.  Mr. Speaker, the calm will come.  

Mr. Speaker, Festival 2008 will be greater than ever.  The theme for Festival 2008 is:  “Anticipating a bright future, paying tribute to our past while celebrating our culture.”

As Minister of Education & Culture I have been charged with the responsibility of ensuring that Festival continues to be fun filled, safe, enjoyable, while at the same, once again, produce a detailed account of the expenditure of public funds thereby stopping the cavalier pattern of spending and lack of accountability of Government funds allocated for Festival that has mushroomed into millions of tax payers dollars in over runs, as indicated by the records, over the last three years.  As Minister, my obligation is to do the right thing.  The rest is in the hands of God.  As a Government, in order to re-introduce accountability in the spending of Government funds allocated for Festival, we must start somewhere, and as the old saying says: “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objects must first be overcome, and don’t let your learning lead to knowledge, let your learning lead to action”.   Needless to say, what I have learnt about Festival since taking office in 2007 has lead me to take action in re-introducing accountability into Festival as well as ensure that immediately after the 2008 Festival events, a financial statement is produced for public viewing and scrutiny. 

Mr. Speaker the chairperson of each sub-committee has been requested to sign a document that states: (see attached).
Mr. Speaker we expect all subcommittee chairperson and there members to continue to adhere to the checks and balances that have been put in place so that we can avoid any cavalier type spending pattern as seen in the past.

Mr. Speaker, we have ensured that the majority of the nights at the Festival village are free admittance.  Mr. Speaker, on the nights where a fee is being collected, all children twelve years and under, while under the supervision of an adult are allowed to be admitted into the Festival Village free of charge for the duration of the festival village.

Mr. Speaker, this year’s Festival village has included more local talent as entertainment than ever before.  Mr. Speaker sir, we must take a cue from our other Caribbean brothers and sisters who ensure that most of their entertainment is from their own country.  After all, Mr. Speaker, we are supposed to be celebrating our emancipation of freedom rather than celebrating, paying and promoting just a Festival.  Mr. Speaker, I must state clearly that this Government is not against foreign artist because they too have their place in our celebration; However, we must do a better job than past, in the promoting the talent we have right here in our midst during this period.  Mr. Speaker, we have come to the belief that this cannot happen but I beg to differ with those with that belief and Mr. Speaker only time and time only Mr. Speaker, will prove which theory is accurate.

At this point Mr. Speaker, I must record in the records of this Honourable House my appreciation for the hard work that all the Festival subcommittee members have done and continue to do.  Mr. Speaker, through their continued dedication and hard work, I am confident that Festival 2008 will be a resounding success.  .  Mr. Speaker, I want to assure all that although the overall total of the subcommittees’ budgets was reduced by just fewer than six hundred thousand dollars thus far, it is important to note that the quality of our Festival has neither been reduced nor compromised.  Festival 2008 will still be greater than ever. 

Mr. Speaker, I must also record my thanks at this point, to all the members of the 2008 Festival Management Board and Procurement Unit, especially the chairpersons namely, Mrs. Luce Hodge-Smith, Chairperson of Festival 2008 & Director of Culture, Mrs. Carolyn O’Neal-Williams and Miss Melissa Farrington respectively, for their hard work and due diligence in the performance of their duties by ensuring that the Festival subcommittee budgets were approved as well as once again ensuring that there is accountability and value for money in the affairs of Festival in the Virgin Islands. In addition, they have worked very closely with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mrs. Sheila Brathwaite to ensure that this is done.  And I also express my gratitude to her.  I must thank them and all involved for ensuring that we start to revive and put more emphasis on our culture during this period. 

Mr. Speaker, in hind-site the implementation of the 2008 Festival Management Board & Procurement Unit has acted as intended in providing the necessary checks and balances to avoid Festival expenses that would have started at just under $2.4 million dollars before variations and rising to only God knows where, as has been the norm.  For this again, I thank and congratulate the two entities for their timely due diligence, despite the late start.

Needless to say Mr. Speaker, we have learnt some valuable lessons in regards to festival, thus far, that must be addressed immediately after the 2008 Festival celebrations which would tremendously reduce the cost to tax payers for Festival.  The bulk of Festival expenditure goes into both the stage and renting of restrooms, among others.  Thereby Mr. Speaker, the option of building permanent public restrooms on the site is definitely an option that Government must explore forthwith, as well as making one time investments in all the other major capital expenditures that are costing Government huge sums of money yearly.   Mr. Speaker, in this respect I must recognize and thank Hon. Vernon Malone who has already provided via Public Works construction drawings for the construction of public rest rooms on the Festival site as earlier indicated. 

Mr. Speaker, in addition, we are in discussions to start preparing all public schools to be a yearly part of our emancipation from slavery celebrations.  Through this the longevity and sustainability of our rich culture and heritage will remain forever.  Lastly, in an attempt to ensure our rich history is respected and known by all, the Ministry of Education & Culture is in preliminary discussions with HLSCC among others to develop and recommend that one pre-requisite to receiving belonger status or any other status in this country, is that applicants must attend and participate in a History & Culture of the Virgin Islands course.

In closing Mr. Speaker, I invite everyone to the Festival Village this Thursday for the Gospel fest at the village site followed the next day of the opening of the Frenchy Gumbs Festival Village at 7:30pm.  Mr. Speaker all members of this Honourable House have received an invitation to stand in unison on stage during the opening night of the Frenchy Gumbs Festival Village 2008.  The Leader of Opposition, the Premier and a few other elected members will be invited to give remarks at the opening.

I would like to wish everyone a safe, happy, and crime free Festival 2008 season.  I also encourage parents to please do your part in helping our festival to be enjoyable, by knowing the whereabouts of your children at all times, especially during the evenings.  Mr. Speaker, I ask of my people to let us celebrate the blessing that the Great God the Universe has given us in being freed from slavery in 1834 in these beautiful Virgin Islands with manners, respect, dignity, a sense of humility and responsibility and last but not least, reverence for the Great God of the Universe who has allowed us to be free at last, free at last.  Thank God Almighty we are free at last. Let our behaviour this 2008 Festival reflect our appreciation and respect for the freedom that our ancestors have fought for.

Mr. Speaker, the greatest achievements are those that benefit others.  Let our freedom be a benefit to others and in return to these beautiful Virgin Islands.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you.