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

‘Exciting things ahead’ to start strengthening VI culture– Premier Wheatley

- Dr Wheatley said moves will be made to encourage writing, documenting traditions & more
There is expected to be an extra effort placed on highlighting Virgin Islands culture for the 70th Anniversary of Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has shared plans to strengthen the VI’s culture. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has shared plans to strengthen the VI’s culture. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Dr Wheatley was at the time speaking during an August 24, 2023, press conference on the recent emancipation festival celebrations in the VI where he added that to start, more schools will be encouraged to participate in the emancipation festival. Photo: VINO/File
Dr Wheatley was at the time speaking during an August 24, 2023, press conference on the recent emancipation festival celebrations in the VI where he added that to start, more schools will be encouraged to participate in the emancipation festival. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has shared plans to strengthen the VI’s culture by introducing ways to encourage the preservation of culture via a culture and heritage strategy to be implemented.

Dr Wheatley was at the time speaking during an August 24, 2023, press conference on the recent Emancipation Festival celebrations in the VI.

According to the Premier, one of the plans is for more schools to be encouraged to participate in the Emancipation Festival. 

He said the Minister of Education, as well as the Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO) have already pledged to have a great deal of participation from schools for the 70th anniversary of Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival and to have more cultural activities happening in the schools.

Dr Wheatley added, “It's not like nothing is happening now, you know you have the music teachers, they do a wonderful job of having persons do whether the fungi music or all the other things which are taking place. But we really have some exciting things coming forward that are in the culture and heritage policy and strategy that we are going to start implementing to help to strengthen our culture.

Preserving history 

He shared that mechanisms include getting museums and heritage sites up and running, having more of the VI’s oral history and oral traditions documented and recorded, and encouraging more persons to write books.

He pointed to a recent $50,000 grant to Virgin Islands (VI) artists to encourage them to develop and promote their craft. The grant is being managed by the VI Festival and Fairs Committee.

The Premier added that preserving culture is a challenge all over the world due to the media, which he said is ‘so powerful’ and influential on the lives of people.

He recalled being influenced by the rap and music culture growing up, “So we've always had an influence from outside the Virgin Islands, but because we have everything on our phones and our tablets and everything right now, you can't really get away from it.

“But that also presents us an opportunity because we can strengthen our culture to the point where we can influence people in other cultures as well,” Premier Wheatley said.

14 Responses to “‘Exciting things ahead’ to start strengthening VI culture– Premier Wheatley”

  • again (29/08/2023, 10:32) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply

    Why eat your words now after being so disrespectful towards us about different.cultures who live amongst ud.Can we go to their shores and change their culture.This boi used to so much about /culture/heritage now all of a sudden he is Natalio.We all know when you **s$& whip but don't bring it on here

  • Comment (29/08/2023, 10:37) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    He pointed to a recent $50,000 grant to Virgin Islands (VI) artists to encourage them to develop and promote their craft.

    (The grant is being managed by the VI Festival and Fairs Committee.)

    Why the Festivals & Fairs Committee? What's going on at the Department of Culture?
    • @Comment (29/08/2023, 12:43) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am asking the same question. What happened to the Department of Culture and it's Department Director?
      • Comment (30/08/2023, 10:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        What’s the definition of ‘Nepotism’?
      • @ @Comment (30/08/2023, 10:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Maybe it is too complex a task for the Director to administer or ‘try’ to spearhead, although it fits the job criteria?
  • speaking with 2 tongues (29/08/2023, 10:37) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    This dude is a waste of time...LESS
  • My Advice (29/08/2023, 10:42) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    Premier I support you but stop talking so much on so many different topics saying what is to come and just stay quite and get the things done one by one & then speak while they are being done because it is too much talk and hardly any actions for the people.
    • smh (29/08/2023, 12:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      He figures that if he says what the people might want to hear, they'll leave him alone. Mr. Premier, if you thought this was going to be a smooth ride, you are wrong. The waters are just beginning to get rough.
  • WHAT!!!! (29/08/2023, 11:42) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    PRIORITIES , roads, smoke,sewage, schools
    Stop with the other crap and get basics fixed.
  • D8 (29/08/2023, 12:50) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    The BVI people really suffering. I never thought I would ever say this because I am one of his biggest critics but I really miss the last Premier. His good far outweighed his bad. He had a real good heart for the people.
  • Ne Timeas (29/08/2023, 13:07) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Culture is an identity that must sustain by embracing, living , eating, breathing it in our daily. It cannot survive and prevail in theory but in practice. It is as if Virgin Islanders are ashamed of their culture, galloping to embrace the culture of others. Others are proud of, embrace and practice their culture. Culture in the VI needs a rebirth, renaissance. Tourism is 1/2 of our economic twin pillars, with thousands of visitors coming to visit annually. But what cultural experiences do they experience, wowed by which they can take back and enthusiastically share with families, friends, co-workers, congregations, etc. ?
  • @Ne Timeas (29/08/2023, 16:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Ne Timeas, indeed our attractions are few and of poor quality, eg, old HMP on Maintain Street, Tortola, Millworks Musuem, Thornton House, etc. Improvement of existing attractions, along with additional attractions are needed. Tourists are tired of Chinese T-shirts and other trinkets; they want uniquely BVI souvenirs.
  • Xxx (29/08/2023, 18:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope this man is not Feeding on the lack of knowledge of the general public
  • @ NE TIMEAS & @ NE TIMEAS (29/08/2023, 19:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    ( BOTH ) of you have said it all / tourists when goes to to a country souvenirs are a main part their trophies that they collect in their journey to and through different countries craft alive , should be Chinese crafts because everyone selling the same Chinese culture and where they came from and other countries that the have the same Chinese culture selling there too and at a better price , so right away there you are going to have a problem in running your business with the lack of sales and thats one of the main issues with craft alive and the renters being unable to pay their rents ( so where is the bvi craftsmen and women ❓️ ) only when people cry out about bvi culture like emancipation ( SUM AH DEM ) open their their eyes and their mouths and
    tadd some special effects to decieve the people / and to those jokers who is always blaming others for negligence or just Don't give a SH*T about culture ( the government is run by BVILANDERS and nobody cannot come here and dictate to the government to cancel out the natural culture and do theirs , that's a lame excuse ~ you all need to SEARCH WITHIN THYSELF and stop pointing your dirty fingers at others , we know the TRUTH


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit 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.