V.I.P.D. To Carnival Troupes: Be On Time This Year Or Risk Losing Chance To Participate

ST. THOMAS — Last year, the Adults Parade here was disjointed and unorganized, as noted by The Consortium’s Founding Editor, Ernice Gilbert, in an opinion piece.

The parade, Mr. Gilbert said, “quickly descended into a chain of embarrassing events as troupes were seemingly missing in action, only to find that while they were set to perform — and would do so at some point — troupe members were not prepared on time, leaving wide gaps with no performances that completely threw the entire event off balance.”

This year, the V.I.P.D. is asking all troupes to be on time so that last year’s mistakes are not repeated.

According to a press release Government House issued this afternoon, senior V.I.P.D. officers have held several meetings with V.I. Carnival Committee officials, parade troupe leaders and participants in an effort to establish guidelines and expectations for this year’s parades. Troupes, floats and parade participants must be on time, in line and ready to go or risk losing their opportunity to participate in the parades, V.I. Police Commissioner Delroy Richards said Wednesday.

The Virgin Islands Police Department is responsible for safety, security and to ensure ease and continuous flow of traffic on Virgin Islands’ streets and highways.

The Carnival Committee has divided the Adult’s Parade into three sections. Each entrant in the parade has been assigned a number and that number corresponds to the appropriate section of the parade. Each section of the parade has been issued a time by which their troupe or entry will be lined up and ready to go at the Western Cemetery staging area:

• Section 1 must report by 9 a.m.
• Section 2 must report by 10 a.m.
• Section 3 must report by 11 a.m.

“If the troupes and entries are not ready at their assigned and appointed time, they may be denied entry into the parade,” Mr. Richards said. “Parade participants are asked to cooperate with all instructions of the Police during the parade. I ask that the community assist us by cooperating with our officers as they work to provide a safe environment for all to enjoy.”

Those unsure of their designated parade section should contact their troupe leaders or the Carnival Committee.