Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Salt collected from Salt Island for gift to Queen

The Virgin Islands kicked off its celebrations to mark the 90th birth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II with a re-creation of the historic and rich tradition of salt breaking and then presenting a pound of salt from Salt Island to pass to the Governor and then onward to Her Majesty as the rent due per year to the Monarchy. Photo: VINO
Making remarks at a brief ceremony just prior to the salt breaking, Governor Duncan praised the resourcefulness and self reliance of the residents of the island. He said that it is been a pleasure for him as the Governor and the representative of Her Majesty the Queen to be part of the effort to revive the ceremony which he called unique as it is rooted in the oral history of the territory and tells the story of the VI's unique link with the Monarchy. Photo: VINO
Making remarks at a brief ceremony just prior to the salt breaking, Governor Duncan praised the resourcefulness and self reliance of the residents of the island. He said that it is been a pleasure for him as the Governor and the representative of Her Majesty the Queen to be part of the effort to revive the ceremony which he called unique as it is rooted in the oral history of the territory and tells the story of the VI's unique link with the Monarchy. Photo: VINO
Speaking at the ceremony, Premier Smith said that the act of gifting a pound of salt to the Queen was something that he knew nothing about until Governor Duncan spoke about it on his arrival in the territory in 2014. Photo: VINO
Speaking at the ceremony, Premier Smith said that the act of gifting a pound of salt to the Queen was something that he knew nothing about until Governor Duncan spoke about it on his arrival in the territory in 2014. Photo: VINO
A resident of Salt Island speaking to Governor Duncan about the process of harvesting the salt from the salt pond. Photo: VINO
A resident of Salt Island speaking to Governor Duncan about the process of harvesting the salt from the salt pond. Photo: VINO
A section of the salt pond on Salt Island. Photo: VINO
A section of the salt pond on Salt Island. Photo: VINO
A section of the attendees during the ceremony. Photo: VINO
A section of the attendees during the ceremony. Photo: VINO
More of the attendees to the ceremony on Salt Island. Photo: VINO
More of the attendees to the ceremony on Salt Island. Photo: VINO
A section of Salt Island. Photo: VINO
A section of Salt Island. Photo: VINO
SALT ISLAND, VI – The Virgin Islands kicked off its celebrations to mark the 90th birth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II with a re-creation of the historic and rich tradition of salt breaking and then presenting a pound of salt from Salt Island to pass to the Governor and then onward to Her Majesty as the rent due per year to the Monarchy.

Following Governor John S. Duncan OBE's declaring open the salt pond from which the territory's gift to the Queen will be taken, descendant of Salt Island Elcine Durante handed over the gift of salt to Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith. The Premier then handed over the one pound bag of the mineral to Governor Duncan who will present it to Queen Elizabeth II.

Making remarks at a brief ceremony just prior to the salt breaking today, March 24, 2016, Governor Duncan said it has been a pleasure for him as the Governor and the representative of Her Majesty the Queen to be part of the effort to revive the ceremony which he called unique as it is rooted in the oral history of the territory and tells the story of the VI's unique link with the monarchy.

“Last year it was my pleasure to present Her Majesty with this symbolic annual rent of one pound of Salt Island salt...,” said Governor Duncan.

“This year the colour [of the salt bag] is purple in recognition of the fact that 2016 is the 90th birthday of our Queen, Queen Elizabeth,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Premier Smith said that the act of gifting a pound of salt to the Queen was something that he knew nothing about until Governor Duncan spoke about it on his arrival in the territory in 2014.

“I went and Googled where I could find stories of this gift of salt but I couldn't. So I am relying completely on the Governor's research,” he said.

He said that in many areas the relationship between the territory and the United Kingdom has served the Virgin Islands very well, especially in the areas of financial services and tourism.

Meanwhile, information about the gift of a pound of Salt Island salt to the Queen being a tradition can be found on Wikipedia.

13 Responses to “Salt collected from Salt Island for gift to Queen”

  • one eye (24/03/2016, 18:52) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    With the ndp the bvi is salt!
  • E. Leonard (24/03/2016, 20:59) Like (23) Dislike (3) Reply
    As a subtract of Salt Island {great grand father ,Adam "Tardum"Leonard; grandfather , William "Bulah" Leonard; father, Cornelius "Down South" Leonard ; and mother, Maria Mercedes White-Leonard, as well as some siblings, were all born on Salt Island}, I applaud the effort to revive the cultural and historical Salt Breaking event. But the cameras and photo ops will soon be gone and Salt Island will go back in its slumber. Salt island needs to be re-populated. During the last election, a candidate raised the issue of re-populating Salt Island. But the election is long gone and Salt Island is back in its slumber. Perhaps, it will surface again in 2019.

    Salt island once a had booming population of ~100 people. Gales (hurricanes), along with migration to the main land (Tortola), contributed to the decreasing population; today there are no permanent residents on Salt Island. With the advancement, improvement and availability of transportation, telecommunications........etc, there is no reason why Salt Island should not be re-populated. Salt Island is gem. Its value as getaway for quiet and enjoyment is priceless and should be preserve for descendants of Salt Island should be protected.

    Moreover, it is obvious to those that journeyed to Salt Island to the recreation of the Salt Breaking event that Salt Island lack even basic infrastructure. Government should encourage repopulating Salt Island by investing in basic infrastructure, i.e., electricity, water, community center, sewage, roads, wharf, moorings ........etc. Additionally, it can subsidized transportation to the island ( add a stop to VG ferries). My Salt Island family you got to agitate for repopulating Salt Island. Kenneth and other cousin family looking good in the pics. Keep agitating!
    • Off Spring of Salt Island (25/03/2016, 10:12) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Until the government of the day does not give the families of Salt Island their deed in their hands to develop Salt Island. Salt Island will all time be in a slumber.
      Too much politics have been the downfall of not getting to develop Salt Island. There are families who were in constant dialogue with Hon. Pickering on getting the deed for what they applied for, some got,and some didn't.
      As though they will have to do like the Indians of American form a society, and go from there.
    • Curious! (25/03/2016, 17:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard, informative and interesting read. But I'm going to plead ignorance on "Subtract" What does subtract in this context mean?
  • vegas (24/03/2016, 22:04) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dr. Smith. Purleesz. U grew up in RT for real?. Dont urinate o. Us and say its precipitation. Get real.
  • wize up (24/03/2016, 22:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ok
  • yea (24/03/2016, 23:14) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    i like a lil salt on my crackers. ;-P
    • wize up (25/03/2016, 06:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ yea: you need Jesus( leave those crackers alone plus salt gives high blood pleasure)........!!!!!
  • Concerned (25/03/2016, 06:47) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Looks like it is being repopulated Mr. Leonard. Someone opened up the pond to "clean it!" I guess Mother Nature can no longer do it after thousands of years. Marina being built in the back so that the small pond needed for the large pond to make salt will be destroyed. I hope this will be stopped and the persons involved fined a huge sum of $. This is the type of colnization salt island does not need. I am surprised that the government approved it, since it is crown land!!! Any comments?
  • Political Observer (25/03/2016, 08:53) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    A marina is being built? Where? It was rumored that the relatives of a former Chief Minister whose grand parents were from Salt Island but in spite of the connection had no connection to Salt Island was given permission to do something on Salt Island. Is the marina is he something? Pure greed and disrespect for the "real people" of Salt Island. Greed is trumping history, culture and family loyaty. Was the descendants of Salt Island even given the courtesy of being consulted? No. Nothing is sacred. Another "Done Deal"? It is no suprise, though, for the voiceless who are relegated at bottom of the social ladder (Cay People) has no say, no value. Who is the rep for Salt Island? Mark, Marlon, Orlando, Walwyn, Archie, Ronnie, Berthie...etc. Who is going to look out for Salt Islanders?

    The Premier is lost on the history and culture of Salt Island and he grew up on Down Street; that says a lot. Was he living under a rock for the past 70+ years. Well, no help there. People of Salt Island all you screwed. Sad. The only hope may be Governor Duncan. Governor Duncan seems more aware of the history and culture of Salt Island than local leaders. No suprise for Salt Island people are the dregs of the earth. They should feel ashamed and emsbarassed. Wat ah ting. The Governor (know you read the blogs) should stop the marina ( if true) and commissioned a review of Salt Island and the Salt Islanders. He is the only hope to make Salt Islanders hold. Governor has the opportunity to shake the view that he is on a tropical vacation and cannot be bothered.

    Concur with E. Leonard blog and call for Salt Islanders to agitate for repopulation. Too much time has past with no action. Too much assumption. The hour is now to strike, for mañana may be too late. Get organize today. It may require winging off to Britain to get results. Cousin family time for action.
  • Niece of Edgar Leonard (25/03/2016, 10:18) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you for your contribution on this article. Well said from an educational perspective.
  • voter (25/03/2016, 19:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doc sleeping again. Imagine Duncan came and dug up the archives to teach him a thing or two about where he from. SMH


    "Speaking at the ceremony, Premier Smith said that the act of gifting a pound of salt to the Queen was something that he knew nothing about until Governor Duncan spoke about it on his arrival in the territory in 2014."


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.