Like many residents, we felt great pride last week as Virgin Islands artists, singers, writers and other creatives waved the territory’s flag at the Caribbean Festival of the Arts in Barbados.
That pride was magnified when musician Raul “Jougo” Sprauve — a stalwart of the VI music scene — won the prestigious Carifesta XV Icon Award on Sunday.
Because of such successes, we support the government’s decision to send 53 delegates to the event. We are particularly pleased that 13 of them are students.
Now, delegates must ensure that taxpayers’ investment is repaid. When they return home, they should share their experiences and pass on the knowledge they gained — whether through performances, exhibitions, workshops or publications.
In our view, government’s support of Carifesta is far more defensible than pouring taxpayer dollars into the March Vybz Kartel show or last year’s muddled VI Music Festival.
The Carifesta delegates will benefit greatly from networking with other like-minded creatives from across the region. And at a time when the VI is experiencing a cultural renaissance of sorts, the strong showing abroad will help showcase the territory’s culture to a wider audience.
Besides boosting pride and encouraging youths here at home, the delegation’s presence in Barbados will also remind potential visitors that the VI’s culture — not just its sand, sun and sea — is worth experiencing.
In the future, we hope that the government will continue sending delegates to such cultural events. But next time, the selection should be handled more transparently.
To that end, government should establish a competitive process advertised widely so that all creatives have a fair shot. Applicants should also be required to submit a clear plan for how they will use the experience to give back to the territory. Such measures will help ensure maximum value for taxpayer dollars.
Finally, kudos to this year’s exceptionally talented delegates. We trust they will make the most of this opportunity — and we look forward to seeing the results when they return.
