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Most Virgin Islands' residents snub Queen’s Birthday Parade?

-as Former Deputy Governor, Rosalie Adams is bestowed with OBE
About a dozen or so spectators viewing the ceremonial affair held on the A. O Shirley Recreation Grounds. Photo: Team of Reporters
Several Police Officers were honored on Saturday, June 9, 2018, during the birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II in the VI—as has been tradition over the years—in addition to former Deputy Governor, Rosalie Adams, being announced as a recipient of the OBE (Order of British Empire). Photo: Team of Reporters
Several Police Officers were honored on Saturday, June 9, 2018, during the birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II in the VI—as has been tradition over the years—in addition to former Deputy Governor, Rosalie Adams, being announced as a recipient of the OBE (Order of British Empire). Photo: Team of Reporters
The annual event is sponsored from the public purse, according to officials from the Deputy Governor’s Office. Photo: Team of Reporters
The annual event is sponsored from the public purse, according to officials from the Deputy Governor’s Office. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The Deputy Governor’s Office on Saturday, June 9, 2018, observed the birthday celebration of Queen Elizabeth II, with a ceremonial affair held on the A. O Shirley Recreation Grounds, notably absent were the majority of the people of the Territory.

The tent erected for the soiree was left largely abandoned, with many empty chairs observed throughout the proceedings.

Uniformed Attendance

Those in attendance were made up largely of members of the VI’s uniformed organisations—attendance, a mandatory requirement on their part.

In attendance also were three lone ‘elected representatives.’ They include Acting Premier, Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7)—who stated publicly ahead of the event, he would only be there in his official capacity, since as a private citizen, he would have boycotted.

Also present for the June 9, 2018, Queen’s Birthday Parade, was Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Education and Culture Minister, Honourable Myron V. Wawlyn (AL)—who is challenging Premier Dr the Honorable D. Orlando Smith (AL), for leadership  of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP).

Premier Smith and Health and Social Development Minister, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) are both in Asia on official business while the remaining seven, ‘elected members’ of the VI’s House of Assembly, appears to have also snubbed the ceremony. 

The colonial event has since been described by some as, ‘nothing out of the ordinary.’

OBE

Several Police Officers were nonetheless honoured—as has been tradition over the years—in addition to former Deputy Governor, Rosalie Adams, being announced as a recipient of the OBE (Order of British Empire).

There had been much talk of a mass ‘boycott’ of the annual celebration of the British Monarch.

It was at the ‘Decision March’ of May 24, 2018 that organiser of that protest demonstration against the UK Government, Bishop John I. Cline, announced that he was boycotting the Queen’s Birthday parade.

The annual event is sponsored from the public purse, according to officials from the Deputy Governor’s Office.

Public Registers

The decision to make mandatory the public registers of beneficial ownership, on British Overseas Territories, was met with close to 5,000 Virgin Islanders taking to the streets in Road Town, Tortola, on May 24, 2018, in a massive protest demonstration—the largest ever in the Territory’s history—against the move by the UK Government.

The demonstration was held in wake of the UK House of Commons and House of Lords supporting the amendment to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill, demanding that only Overseas Territories located in the Caribbean operate registers of beneficial ownership.

The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill, has since received the Royal Assent and became an Act on May 23, 2018.

The move, according to critics, could essentially kill the VI’s financial services sector, which accounts for 60 cents of every dollar in the economy.

The VI Government says it will only comply when the standard becomes a global one.

18 Responses to “Most Virgin Islands' residents snub Queen’s Birthday Parade? ”

  • ccc (10/06/2018, 18:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow smh
  • True (10/06/2018, 20:19) Like (47) Dislike (3) Reply
    in truth this is about the amount of people that go every year, so no change here
    • true talk (11/06/2018, 10:31) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
      The title is misleading and meant to mislead. The amount of persons in attendance is no different from what we have seen over the past 15-20 years.
  • We say (10/06/2018, 22:13) Like (44) Dislike (3) Reply
    Nurses never get honored, what a shame. Look how hard they work after the hurricane not even a thank you.
    • Umm (11/06/2018, 08:17) Like (15) Dislike (6) Reply
      Which nurses you talking about?! N half of ya’ll piggish! Have several seats
    • chad (11/06/2018, 10:21) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      Not with Vincy nurses that piggish and can’t even read blood pressure manually like they recruiting beginners and not field ready nurses that’s it plane and simple
  • Stupid bvi ppl (11/06/2018, 08:16) Like (1) Dislike (22) Reply
    Ya’ll go ahead!! Smh
    • Israel Diaz (11/06/2018, 09:48) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      I resent your statement with great passion. Why are you here amongst stupid people you jack donkey of an individual.
    • Huh? (11/06/2018, 11:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The kettle calling the coal pot bottom black.
  • YOLO (11/06/2018, 10:01) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    to be honest i didnt know the parade was Saturday no flyers was up to reminded me ...i guess NDP wasted all the money on the march, ill bring the whole fam next year if the bvi remind me
  • Hush (11/06/2018, 10:14) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    @ Stupid bvi people. If we are stupid and you living among us you need to leave. Because that makes you extra stupid to live among us. SMH
    • chad (11/06/2018, 12:45) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      I wish your comment made as much sense!!! But you guys idea to do against the Queen is not wise!
  • oh (11/06/2018, 11:51) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    There's the Governor! I see him in your news story picture. So when is he going to learn how to communicate
    outside his little circle? No call, no email, no Bonbon candies delivered. What a crumpet.
  • cay (11/06/2018, 20:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    just rid the country of the NDP then we will deal with the other things after
  • not there (11/06/2018, 21:39) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well Her Majesty herself did not show up, so there you go.
  • yrral (12/06/2018, 09:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Maybe they should dump tea into the harbor,this how American got their independent from the crown
  • Rubber Duck (15/06/2018, 00:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did I miss something? A parade with 5000 people ? In BVI? Funny, because that march against the register was only 800 at most. One reason no one goes to the Queens Birthday thing is that the dress is lounge suits. In June, In Tortola, in the afternoon sun? No thanks.


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