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Premier extols strength in VI's diversity

-joins with Hindu Community to celebrate 'Holi'
March 24th, 2019 | Tags: Andrew A. Fahie Holi
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), this past week on March 21, 2019, joined with the Hindu residents of the Territory, to partake in the annual Holi celebrations—a religious holiday. Photo: Provided
According to Premier Andrew A. Fahie, “Unity is strength” and “it was a pleasure to be a part of the Hindu community's celebration of the festival of colours known as Holi day.” Photo: Provided
According to Premier Andrew A. Fahie, “Unity is strength” and “it was a pleasure to be a part of the Hindu community's celebration of the festival of colours known as Holi day.” Photo: Provided
Premier, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, was joined by his deputy, Dr the Honourable Nathalio D. Smith for the colourful affair. Photo: Provided
Premier, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, was joined by his deputy, Dr the Honourable Nathalio D. Smith for the colourful affair. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), this past week on March 21, 2019, joined with the Hindu residents of the Territory, to partake in the annual Holi celebrations—a religious holiday.

He was joined by his deputy, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (D7) for the colourful affair.

According to Premier Fahie, “Unity is strength” and “it was a pleasure to be a part of the Hindu community's celebration of the festival of colours known as Holi day.”

He told those celebrating the auspicious occasion, “your new Administration will be one of inclusion, recognizing that while we may call the Creator by various names, we worship one God.”

Hon Fahie was adamant, “there is strength in our diversity, and we are proud to have persons of different nationalities here with us in the Virgin Islands.”

Holi—the festival of colors—traditionally marks the commencement of spring season in India after the winter season.

Similar to many other festivals in India, this festival also symbolizes the victory of good over evil in India and countries around the world where Hindu communities are located.

 People of all age groups with their faces and clothes smeared with different colors of 'Gulal (powder)' celebrate the festival along with water. 

16 Responses to “Premier extols strength in VI's diversity ”

  • weed (24/03/2019, 15:05) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well done premier
    • Diversity (24/03/2019, 18:27) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is awesome to see Premier and Minister Wheatley making time to celebrate with the community. We must all embrace cultures as we live and work in this place we call home, even if for a short time.
    • Concerned (24/03/2019, 22:07) Like (6) Dislike (10) Reply
      I hope that the Premier knows what phagawh is all about and no devoted Christian celebrates it Do not get into things you do not know about
      • Guyanese (25/03/2019, 07:21) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
        Phagwah its a celebration good over evil.There is one God
      • Seriously "concerned"!?! (25/03/2019, 07:21) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
        "No devoted Christian" judges others.
      • wow (25/03/2019, 09:58) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
        He's the Premier not a pastor of a church. He has to cater to all people. He's running a COUNTRY not a CHURCH.
      • wise up (25/03/2019, 13:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        Holi - is a popular ancient Hindu festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent. Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring", the "festival of colours", or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest. Water guns and water-filled balloons are also used to play and colour each other. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks.
  • huh (24/03/2019, 16:18) Like (6) Dislike (21) Reply
    Everywhere else except doing anything in his district … ! 4 prayer meetings, 3 parties, 2 trip overseas and 30 days later, 0 for his district. He might be premier and minister of finance, but he was first the district rep. We are being smoked out down here daily and up to now, not a word from him. The place looks like a dump, nothing from the rep! By now we should be able to tell us since he's the Minister for Ports, when the west end port will be open, nothing there. I agree with Carvin Malone, there is nothing to smile about in these here BVI.
    • @HUH (25/03/2019, 03:25) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
      You sound like a bitter igno ramrod m@#$&*s@$:&k&$@
    • @ huh (25/03/2019, 07:21) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      For god sake the man was only premier for 3 weeks what about 8 years when nothing was done and they hated d1

      Fahie on track he doing well and you can’t touch him in d1
  • Fact of the Matter (25/03/2019, 01:44) Like (9) Dislike (17) Reply
    That was an inaccurate statement made by the government that we all serve one God.

    How are we going to bring this Territory back to God Almighty if we’re turning a blind eye to reality.

    Other religions worship the cow and idols. This religion believe in gods and goddesses. God says we should have no other God’s but Him no matter how you twist and turn it.

    Google this celebration and see for yourself.

    We can’t play with God’s laws.

    We can’t expect to sell our souls by being accepting of tradition and culture that does not abide by God’s laws.

    We should know better.
    • shakespeare (25/03/2019, 09:31) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      "There are more things...in Heaven and Earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy"

      Quit judging!!
  • chad (25/03/2019, 09:46) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Premier thanks for your efforts in trying to unite the BVI.
  • The TRUTH (25/03/2019, 23:45) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Here comes some of the stuff a lot of you guys can't deal with. Most western religions are based on a trinity. They are copied from Hindu. Hindu has Brama, Krishna and Shriva. Judaism has Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Christianity has father son and holy ghost. The Jews shifted the A in Brama to the beginning to come up with Abram then they said god changed his name to Abraham. The Christians copied the Egyptian Isis Osiris and Heru....mother father and child...and changed the mother into a ghost.All religion is based on mythology...Christians need to get a life and stop acting so damn silly...intelligent people see you for exactly what you are...clueless. The celebration of Easter is exactly the same as the Hindu celebration...it's all based on astrology. It's all about the seasons of the
    SUN. It's time to wake up now.
  • Jehovah is God (26/03/2019, 11:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dear VINO...you are so partial in what you post. I sent a comment to the Honorable Premier expressing my thoughts about him saying ....*we all worship the same God....* but you never posted it. I humbly want to say again that we as born again Believers in Christ do not serve idols. We serve Jehovah who is a jealous God. He said in His Holy Word that we should have no other gods beside Him.... VINO, I do not expect you to post this one either, therefore can you please pass on the message on behalf of the True Christian Community. We love the Hindus but we would never bow our sanctified knees to their idols. Thank you VINO for giving The Honorable Premeir my message.


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