“Freedom from what?” asks Minister Vanterpool
While addressing the public at this year’s Emancipation Service yesterday August 5, 2012, at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town, the Minister who bears responsibility for Communications and Works in the VI said, that although 178 years had passed since slavery was abolished in the Territory, the VI is still controlled by another, the United Kingdom.
Hon. Vanterpool charged that the Territory is not free to determine its own destiny after 178 years of ‘freedom’. “We are not in control of our own destiny in this day and time of our history.”
He said, “year to year we are coming to this same place to celebrate freedom but freedom from what?” How determined are we as a people to believe in ourselves that we can govern ourselves?”
In light of this, he said that a conversation pertaining to the Virgin Islands being totally free, should be discussed amongst the people who call the Territory home. “VI continues to be dictated to by the government of the United Kingdom.”
In making reference to the year of 1930, Hon. Vanterpool said a group of men, led the march of self-restoration for the VI back then, “yet ladies and gentlemen, 62 years later, it is still being argued that the advantages of remaining quality, still outweighs the advantages of self-determination of our own country”.
Hon. Vanterpool asked the public, “Where is our own heart, where is our own strength, where is our own pride?”
He exclaimed that it is time to understand the real meaning of the Territory’s flag and hoped that one day soon, “our national song will be our National Anthem.”
“Time for the management of our own affairs to be in our own hands, rather than depend on guidance and instructions from those who live away from us, who may wish us well, but not tell us what is well for us. Conversation needs to begin, for us to light our own destiny, identity, self -determination and pride as a people.”
Along with the comments coming from Hon. Vanterpool, the Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Myron Walwyn, during brief remarks, said that the culture of the Virgin Islands is important, while he instructed persons and communities to call on God, not only in times of need but all the time.
Keynote Speaker, Rev. Dr. H. Beecher Hicks Jr. said under the topic of ‘Splintered board and broken pieces’, that those who are placing the blame and pointing fingers on others, does not solve any matters.
He added that in life, everyone goes through tough times and faces contrary winds. "Winds of life make it hard to stay on course and makes you no longer in control or in charge.”
He told the attendees to never give up, while encouraging them to never abandon their trials and burdens. “Hold on until you can get past your pains and problems; wait on the lord and be of good courage.”
Prior to the emancipation service, persons marched from the Queen Elizabeth Park to the Sunday Morning well, accompanied by the Cane Garden Bay Baptist Church praise and worship team.
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