The bulk of the Emancipation Festival activities are behind us – over seven days of exciting display of colour and an array of entertainment at every corner on Tortola. Many used the three-day stretch of holidays in-between to shindig, but it was also quite evident that there are numerous efforts afoot to maintain the cultural aspects and more importantly, ensure that the freedoms fought for in 19th century are never forgotten. Fittingly, several braved heavy rains to participate in the annual Freedom March, which started at Government House on

The attendance at the event was paltry in comparison to the hundreds that crammed grounds in Roadtown, East End and Carrot Bay to listen to several international recording artists.

It leaves one to wonder if gathering at the Sunday Morning Well was less important than joining family and friends at the various Festival Villages. Each individual will have to do a bit of soul searching and come up with an answer.

If the continued daily assault on the Sunday Morning Well is any indication of the respect we have for the struggles of our ancestors, as a nation we are in disarray.

The StandPoint is on record of repeatedly chiding the wanton use of the site by drug dealers and the sacrilege caused by the disposal of garbage and occasional carwash businesses.

However, the District Four Representative, Dr. Vincent Scatliffe, has promised that under his watch, the site will be treated with the national respect and value it commands. Bold words that warrant equal actions.

Despite exorbitant entry fees, it was an awe inspiring attendance at each activity, including the Rise and Shine Tramp in Roadtown and East End. Unfortunately, we were vividly reminded of the societal problems that continue to bite us. On Monday August 4 –the first day of a planned two-day Rise and Shine Tramp in Roadtown, a man allegedly received lacerations about the body and apparently collapsed in the CCT parking lot. It was the first such road tramp after a double-murder last year spoilt Emancipation Festival celebrations. More so, it occurred at a time when violent crimes had peaked a few weeks earlier with a double-murder. Regrettably, the police thought it wise to stop the tramp immediately and took further steps to cancel the following day’s road tramp – a decision that eventually hurt August Tuesday Water Sports activities.

The police must be commended for their visibility and gallant attempts to protect the citizenry and visitors at all the activities. Many disagreed with the decision by the police, but at some stage we must trust those who look over our welfare.

Despite that one glitch, members of the force along with private security personnel ensured that Festival 2008 was indeed a great one. And this was evident by the hundreds that lined the road for the annual Parade that featured several unique costumes worn by jubilant revelers. The police ensured that all traffic remained smooth, even when the situation reached boiling point in the Carrot Bay area where several drivers were requested to park their vehicles and use a shuttle system. Despite the murmurs, drivers collaborated and this bodes well for the future planning of the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta.

Many were sceptical at the beginning of the Emancipation Festival celebrations, but there were activities for everyone at some point in time.

The cultural aspects were evident, albeit not enough. Every Committee can and should do more to promote the cultural aspects of the Territory. With better planning and with marketing by the BVI Tourist Board, the VI Emancipation Festival can be promoted as a unique blend of cultural entertainment that serves to bolster our tourism product.

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