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by pltm
(PLTM) - To reaffirm his commitment to community development and youth empowerment, the Deputy Speaker of the House Honourable Neville Smith hosted Virgin Gorda Got Talent on Sunday, April 10.
The event attracted scores of spectators and featured various local talents.
In an exclusive interview with Platinum News, Hon. Neville Smith discussed his intentions to extend the scope of the event to include other islands under the banner, ‘BVI Got Talent’.
He pledged his long-term support to the community event by stating that it will now occur on an annual basis, regardless of which government is in office.
In response to the criticism from the public about government’s emphasis on community-building initiatives as a form of election campaigning, Hon. Smith was dismissive and insisted that the timing of the event was no coincidence. He argued that the restrictions imposed by the COVID 19 pandemic delayed planned community activities.
Despite the name 'Virgin Gorda Got Talent', Hon. Smith revealed that the purpose of the event was to engender community spirit since it offered an opportunity for persons to showcase their talents was the main motivation for hosting the event. It therefore intentionally lacked competitive elements like the awarding of prizes and. However, three top performers were selected to perform at the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival for further exposure and recognition opportunities.
The event was not a fund-raising venture, and the audience was not required to pay an entrance fee. Instead, it was fully funded through donations, personal sponsorship by Hon. Smith, and assistance from other At-Large Representatives.
Hon. Smith noted that the event was especially significant because the youth is often overlooked and marginalized.
He stated that the show was conceptualized when he attended an event, and was very impressed by a young lady from Virgin Gorda who had performed a song. According to Hon. Smith, he was immediately inspired by her talent, and coupled with his commitment to the youth, the Virgin Gorda Got Talent plan was set in motion.
