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Blood of ancestors 'still speaking' but are we listening? Premier Fahie asks

- calls on Virgin Islanders to honour legacy of ancestors by completing 'unfinished works'
Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has called on Virgin Islanders to honour the legacy of the ancestor and make moves towards completing their works started generations ago. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The all-white themed event was hosted by the African Studies Klub and was held behind the Crafts Clive Village in Road Town, Tortola. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The all-white themed event was hosted by the African Studies Klub and was held behind the Crafts Clive Village in Road Town, Tortola. Photo: GIS/Facebook
According to Premier Andrew A. Fahie, often he is often unwilling to talk about the slave trade out of a belief that it, 'will frighten some of the persons around me if you go too deep.' Photo: Internet Source
According to Premier Andrew A. Fahie, often he is often unwilling to talk about the slave trade out of a belief that it, 'will frighten some of the persons around me if you go too deep.' Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has called on Virgin Islanders to honour the legacy of their ancestors and make moves towards completing their unfinished works started generations ago.

The Premier, who was the keynote speaker at the 13th Annual African Remembrance Wreath-laying Ceremony held yesterday, Sunday, February 7, 2021, also used the opportunity to remind the territory that it still has a long way to go regarding complete freedom and the new journey starts with recognising its current position on the journey.

Remembering VI's ancestors 

“Today as we remember or ancestors who lost their lives to the transatlantic slave trade or however they lost their lives during the slave trade, we have to ask ourselves if their death is just a call for remembrance or a call for both remembrances as well as a call to action,” Premier Fahie questioned.

The Premier illustrated via a metaphor that blood can tell the current state of the body, likewise, the blood the ancestors spilt in their fight for freedom also tells a story about their struggles.

“Their blood not only speaks, but it is still speaking, but the question also is are we listening and are we mobilising and if we are listening, then we must ask ourselves are we moving forward in a respectful but assertive manner to complete their unfinished task,” the Premier said.

Further, according to Hon Fahie, who took a keen interest in African history and psychology when he attended Florida A&M University, which is the 3rd largest historically black university in the United States by enrollment, he is often unwilling to talk about the slave trade out of a belief that it, "will frighten some of the persons around me if you go too deep.”

People might accuse me of being racist - Premier Fahie 

“Our history is so deep that they might accuse me sometimes of being racist in which I am not. Every tribe remembers their history but there's always an amber light that goes on when the Africans try to remember theirs,” the Premier related.

He said the reason for that is because if Virgin Islanders truly recognise who they are and where the bloodline comes from, “then we will realise that we are not only free but we are freed,” he said.

The Premier called on the territory to use the legacy of VI’s ancestors to move forward, calling the current era, a period for Virgin Islanders to honour that legacy.

He said now is a good time to be alive in order to fulfil a purpose that was first sparked by VI's ancestors. 

VI's ancestors looking @ current generation - Premier Fahie 

“The question is, what is it that you want to leave as a legacy for ancestors and for your children? Because I end by telling you the eyes of the future [are] looking back at us hoping that we get it right and the eyes of the past, our ancestors are looking ahead at us hoping we do not get it wrong,” he said.

The all-white themed event was hosted by the African Studies Klub and was held behind the Crafts Alive Village in Road Town, Tortola.

22 Responses to “Blood of ancestors 'still speaking' but are we listening? Premier Fahie asks”

  • Real (08/02/2021, 10:12) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    It's a mystery
    How we can keep repeating our history
    Making the same mistakes as our ancestry
    Seems like all of life lessons missed we
    It's risky.

    The attitude of today’s people who’s mostly made up of fairly young people with an encourager like C***Y our future Government will be up of ex convicts etc. Popularity they will vote on. Someone known for really bad things. The mature mind thinking individuals of the BVI will be out run by a much larger un-matured minded set of people. It will seems cool and all fun; If we let that happen the future of the BVI with people with that kinda mindset of C***Y’s school of leadership is going to make the BVI look like a Scene in from the movie Book of Eli.

  • I agree , They must be upset (08/02/2021, 10:33) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    They made the ultimate sacrifices hoping and expecting our leaders will lead in love, compassion and empathy,,,,Not greed selfishness and heartlessness,. Also having the Rich oppressing and taking advantage of the poor,,, People many many poor people are meeting unnecessary tough times with this bad economical they created and encouraging employers not to pay their workers what due to them,,,,, That's Why they are turning in their graves,,,, The leaders failing them
  • powerful (08/02/2021, 10:45) Like (31) Dislike (10) Reply
    Premier your address was POWERFUL!
  • Nice (08/02/2021, 10:50) Like (21) Dislike (5) Reply
    Kudos to the African Studies Klub. This was outstanding.
  • Keep going (08/02/2021, 10:52) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    Very informative
  • facts (08/02/2021, 11:55) Like (6) Dislike (17) Reply
    Blacks cannot be racist please do not ever make that mistake mr Fahie
    • Black Nationalist (08/02/2021, 12:23) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      Big fact!
    • Curious (08/02/2021, 13:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why???
      • @ curious (08/02/2021, 23:10) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
        Blacks cannot be racist just check history and see over the years who have killed and oppressed black people up to today!
        Blacks have no power or no nuclear weapons
      • New definition (09/02/2021, 14:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        There is a new definition of racism. Whilst the original defines racism as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, the new definition adds in a caveat that racism can only occur if there is perceived power.
  • Cannot Serve Two Masters (08/02/2021, 12:29) Like (18) Dislike (21) Reply
    God shall not be mocked...stop the blasphemy about the blood of ancestors still speaking.

    Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward—and even the memory of them disappears. What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.

    Deuteronomy 18:10-14 Don’t sacrifice your sons or daughters in the fires on your altars. Don’t try to learn what will happen in the future by talking to a fortuneteller or by going to a magician, a witch, or a sorcerer. Don’t let anyone try to put magic spells on other people. Don’t let any of your people become a medium or a wizard. And no one should try to talk with someone who has died. The Lord hates anyone who does these things. And because these other nations do these terrible things, the Lord your God will force them out of the land as you enter it. You must be faithful to the Lord your God, never doing anything he considers wrong. “You will force the other nations out of your land. They listen to people who use magic and try to tell the future. But the Lord your God will not let you do these things.

    Trust In God alone and seek Him for wisdom.
    11. Isaiah 8:19-20 Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
  • oh boy (08/02/2021, 13:31) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    How convenient and self serving...
  • Rubber Duck (08/02/2021, 13:39) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    You would be better off paying attention to the children who have to suffer the appalling education system and an uncertain future, in Haiti mark 2 if you had your way, than harping back with your superstitious non sense to long dead ancestors.
  • Joshua (08/02/2021, 13:47) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hon Premier I hear you loud and clear. Your speech is almost commendable. But there is a but. The way how our ancestors were treated is beyond mental comprehension. But But But please tell me the way how strangers are treated within your gates, how do you classify that. Down island people, why don't you go back home. Extensions of severance payments benefiting the local employers. When are you going to address that. Are we the expats most of us living like slaves among you. Yes it is good to remember the past done to you but what about the present done to us. If you have to memory that you can remember the past and the present you are not seeing. It makes me shudder, are all men not created equal or just tolans. I demand the same answer that you Premuer demanded from the Governor.
    • @Joshua (09/02/2021, 14:41) Like (0) Dislike (8) Reply
      He is the same one who initiated the fast track regularization. No buts
  • KLM (08/02/2021, 13:56) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    @facts Some Blacks are more racist than Whites
  • coi (08/02/2021, 18:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    With the COI imminent, I am not sure that a policy of divide and conquer is the best way forward
  • Question Duckie Duck (08/02/2021, 20:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Are not Europeans living out the dreams and aspirations of their ancestors. Did they suddenly become Billionaire and Trillionaire families. Black ambition throws a spanner in the works and must be condemned ( don't it). Some people are downright sickening and shameless.
  • WISE CONSULOR (08/02/2021, 21:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    HON. PREMIER, I DO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WIRH YOUR ARGUMENT IN REFERENCE TO SELF RULE, BUT I DO DUSGREE WITH SOME OF THE POLITICAL TACTICS THAT YOU HAVE EMPLOYED TO ACHIEVE THE WELL DESERVE GOAL, INDEPENDENCE.
    THE SKILLED MATADOR IS MUCH SMARTER THAN A FOROCIOUS BULL,. THOUGH WITH FAR LESS PHYSICAL STRENGTH HE WINS ALMOST EVERY TIME. LEARN FROM HIM. USE CHARM MIXED WITH CALM, SKILFUL WISDOM, NOT TUG-A-WARRING, HUMBLENESS, NOT GRUMBLING, FUMMING, FUSSING AND CONTINUING FUSTRATION, BLA BLA BLA.
  • Xxxx (08/02/2021, 23:13) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    we blacks in this country need to wake up and unite. Funny man had us divided for 8 years putting locals against island people and whites against black. BVI against USVI that was Myron legacy

    We will not repeat. Fahie is the man to bring us all together
  • Yes @cant serve two master (09/02/2021, 04:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hell yes let speak our ancestral language and give the enemy back his and his tools he used to divide and separate us to conquer and control us back ..his dam bible lying indoctrinated story of his image of our history ..
  • My Take (09/02/2021, 23:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Solid speech Premier


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