Left to right: Gracelyn Pickering, KeyonDre Slater, Ritisha Fahie and Alexia Penn following a smooth and successful hoisting of the Union Jack and Territorial Flag this morning November 23, 2012 in the compound of the Francis Lettsome Primary School. Photo: VINO

This is in keeping with a mandate by the Ministry of Education and Culture to instill a sense of national pride and identity.

According to Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, who was at the ceremony this morning, he has asked the Department of Education to spearhead the erecting of flagpoles at all schools, where students will be charged with raising and lowering the Union Jack, the Territorial Flag and the individual school’s flag which will be developed over the next school year. In fact he said all schools should have their own flag by September 2013.

Deputy Premier and Representative of the Seventh District Dr. Kedrick Pickering said education was the key to the survival of the Virgin Islands and they activity was part of the education of the country. “ To ensure that national pride is foremost in the minds of students.”

Dr. Pickering also said the Virgin Islands has come a long way in short space of time in terms of its development as a Territory but that the education of the people did not keep pace with the development. He noted that he only knew about history of Long Look when he was a grown man as he was never taught about it in school. “I didn’t know as a student that Long Look was the first pre-slave plantation in the Western Hemisphere, the same year as the United States Independence in 1776.”

He said it was important that students have national pride and be aware of their own history.

Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture, Ms Lorna Stevens, outlined the protocols for hoisting and lowering the flags which will be done on a daily basis by the students.

Deputy Director of Culture Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye spoke to the students on the protocols to be adhered to when singing the songs God Save Ours Gracious Queen and Oh Beautiful Virgin Islands.

She told the students that as a mark of respect they should always stand at full attention whenever the national anthem is being played or sung and they should sing along if they are required to.

“And if you are walking toward s a group of persons and the anthem is being sung, you are to stop where you are and stand at attention and wait until it is finished until you can continue your movement. The same applies to the Territorial Song…”

Mrs Lettsome-Tye also said the Territorial Song should be sung immediately following the National Anthem whenever it is sung. It is to be sung at all official ceremonies at the three branches of Government : Legislative, Executive and Judiciary. 

The Territorial Song, she said is to also be sung in all schools and general assemblies at least once a week.