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Governor Rankin out of VI as territory commemorates 1949 Great March

- Deputy Governor David D. Archer acting as Governor
According to a press release from the Deputy Governor's Office on November 25, 2022, Governor John J. Rankin, CMG will be out of the Territory from November 25, 26, 27 and 29, 2022. Photo: GIS/File
Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer, Jr will act in the Office of Governor in the absence of Mr John J. Rankin. Photo: GIS/File
Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer, Jr will act in the Office of Governor in the absence of Mr John J. Rankin. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- As the Virgin Islands today, November 28, 2022, celebrates its historic pushback against the political system administered by the colonial power, the Great March of 1949, the King's representative is out of the Territory.

According to a press release from the Deputy Governor's Office on November 25, 2022, Governor John J. Rankin, CMG will be out of the Territory from November 25, 26, 27 and 29, 2022.

It also said Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer, Jr will act in the Office of Governor in the absence of Mr Rankin.

The 1949 Great March and Restoration Day holiday commemorates the historic demonstration on Sunday, November 24, 1949, that was led by Theodolph Faulkner, Isaac “Glanny” Fonseca, Carlton deCastro, and over 1,500 Virgin Islanders who marched through the streets of Road Town to the Commissioner’s Office (today known as the Governor’s Office) in protest of issues significantly affecting the quality of the lives of Virgin Islanders. 

The demonstrators presented the Commissioner with a petition that highlighted their grievances with the political system, which was administered from Antigua at the time. The demonstration served as a catalyst for political development in the Territory, leading to the restoration of the Legislative Council and the evolution of a modern Virgin Islands.

Meanwhile, Governor Rankin is expected to be back in the VI for a football match on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, to mark the 150th Anniversary of the first-ever international match between England and Scotland.

36 Responses to “Governor Rankin out of VI as territory commemorates 1949 Great March”

  • Anonymous (28/11/2022, 09:33) Like (20) Dislike (51) Reply
    See he placed football over the serious March of the people it says a lot !!! Stay awake people
    • @Anonymous (28/11/2022, 10:09) Like (53) Dislike (4) Reply
      Do you guys always have to spread the negativity? Don’t the majority of you guys place the expensive IPHONES, weaves, fake eyelashes and the claws on your hands over feeding your kids and then sit back and holler about ohhhh, food prices is to high. If you can find the money for the above mentioned you can find the money to feed your kids.
      • @@@ anonymos (28/11/2022, 11:36) Like (5) Dislike (39) Reply
        here we go again with the divisive hate and they putting a spin on facts and calling it "negativity" People wake up its time to march again for our rights and freedom we do not need a governor
    • HIM (28/11/2022, 12:40) Like (27) Dislike (1) Reply
      Football is waaaaay more important.
  • Me (28/11/2022, 10:14) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
    You all are so full of BS, that is all I have to say. If you don’t like what I said, go MARINATE ON IT.
  • not nice (28/11/2022, 10:18) Like (24) Dislike (18) Reply

    It says alot yes that's why we have to stay frocse and get rid of Rankin Collins Pam and the @#$%& UK now before it's too late

    • agreed (28/11/2022, 13:11) Like (5) Dislike (16) Reply
      The governor is loyal to the Uk who is his boss and not us so he should stop trying to fool us to try to make us think otherwise. We need to see this for what it is, MODERN DAY VERSION OF COLONIALISM.
      • Common Sense (30/11/2022, 15:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        You might want to take note of the Prince of Wales latest comment just this week: there is no room for racism in our society, and, that goes both ways.
  • BOTTOM LINE (28/11/2022, 10:36) Like (30) Dislike (20) Reply
    He dont care about us
  • Oppressor (28/11/2022, 10:52) Like (20) Dislike (21) Reply
    We dont need him back
  • Reparations pls (28/11/2022, 11:42) Like (14) Dislike (17) Reply
    He should stay where he's at, not needed here.
  • hmmm (28/11/2022, 11:50) Like (21) Dislike (12) Reply
    He and his bosses are always trying to enslave us in one way or another while trying to make us believe otherwise.
  • Youth (28/11/2022, 12:52) Like (3) Dislike (17) Reply
    This man and the head of police always away every minute on our tax dollars. We should know where they are going and for what. They do not care about us. They disrespect our holiday that means so much to us.
  • Clearly (28/11/2022, 12:59) Like (9) Dislike (11) Reply
    Keep an eye on these people because they are doing the old trick in a modern form of trying to divide us to conqueror us while trying to make us believe that they care for us and trying to save us from ourselves when in fact their backyard is dirtier than all the Caribbean islands put together and more.
  • Let the Governor B. (28/11/2022, 13:03) Like (25) Dislike (9) Reply
    Why these X and present officials making everything and every move the governor make a bother to them and an issue. By now they should realized building relationship is the way to go...Instead of this war like behaviour.
  • questions (28/11/2022, 13:03) Like (12) Dislike (13) Reply
    Who monitors these governors? Who holds them accountable? How can they have power to hold us accountable, but we have no power to do the same to them? How can this be democracy? How can this be freedom? How can this be transparent? Why is this being allowed in the 21st century? Why is he allowed to be absent and thereby disrespect such a meaningful holiday celebration in the history of the Virgin Islands without consequences?
  • here we go again (28/11/2022, 13:18) Like (6) Dislike (14) Reply
    Taking an important time in the history of the VI to go away with the rest of the oppressor colleagues to plan the next phase of the attempt to take over mission and try to make it look the usual way as if it is something we did wrong. The slavery mill grinning slow but grinning still.
  • Knowee, knowee (28/11/2022, 13:42) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply
    You all with this enslavement and slavery S**t. Y’all got your own damn self in slavery.
  • good (28/11/2022, 13:54) Like (10) Dislike (12) Reply
    Hope he doesn’t come back!
  • fromafar (28/11/2022, 14:20) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
    The Governor has never cared about us and will never. He does not want to be reminded of the struggles of our people and our country. He is here to please the King and to earn his pay. I SAY LET GET REED OF THIS SYSTEM IT DOES NOTHING FOR US.
  • Can’t Win (28/11/2022, 14:30) Like (19) Dislike (11) Reply
    The poor Governor can’t win. Only a few days ago many were complaining that he turned up to “local functions” uninvited…. And now as he probably wasn’t invited to any functions over the weekend he decided to go off-island, and a lot of us are complaining that he doesn’t care about us. REALLY????
  • Loose mouth (28/11/2022, 14:38) Like (20) Dislike (7) Reply
    So the Governor stays and participates in the Great March then what? We will certainly hear how he is trying to intrude into something deemed only to be celebrated by Virgin Islanders.
    • @loose mouth (28/11/2022, 16:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      the governor is here and did go lol
    • fromafar (28/11/2022, 16:55) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      @ Loose mouth. you don't get it we are tired of figure heads what purpose does he serve other than the king. we need representative leadership. identifiable leadership with the people. How can you truly lead, and you cannot identify with those you lead. Evidently you cannot identify with our struggles either, no sir. it not only celebrated by Virgin Islanders it should be celebrated and appreciated by all who understand the struggles our forefathers went through in all our Caribbean islands but more so by those who call these Virgin Islands home
  • Real Sambo (28/11/2022, 15:32) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    It would be awkward for Guv Rankin to be in country celebrating The Great March of 1949 and Restoration Day for the protest was against his controversial predecessor Administrator JAC Cruikshank. A BVI selected, not just a UK-appointed Guv would have ensured he/she would be in territory to celebrate with his/her people. BVI people need strong input in whom is representing them as Governor. Wonder how a Governor feels being disconnected from the people he only represent on paper with no emotional connection. It has to be awkwar, unless he/she is heavily invested in racial superiority mentality which is sad. Hope that today have real and concrete meaning for Virgin Islanders and not just another holiday. The warriors of 1949 march were plank owners in laying the path for the next generations of Virgin Islanders. They laid a marker that some of missed, buying tge snake oil that the enslavers continue to sell. The BVI is a polarized, divided, and confused place. The BVI is not as progressive, prosperous, wealthy, politically mature, etc as too many of us believe.
  • Funny (28/11/2022, 16:24) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The governor is in the territory payinmg his respects on this national holiday
  • lol (28/11/2022, 17:19) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    You can’t even get this right. He was in the territory today.
  • The Attack continues (29/11/2022, 02:16) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply

    The Governor went to an event the other day, you carry a big headline that he was uninvited and not welcome. Now he is off for whatever reason, it's another headline he don't care he prefers football. When will you people get off the man's back. If He s--ts it's a problem if he blinks, it's a problem. Give the man a break. It's just his job.

  • Ne Timeas (29/11/2022, 05:33) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The politics of colonialism is about exclusion, racial superiority/supremacy, dependency, special privileges/entitlements, economic exploitation, master-slave mentality, etc.
  • Josiahsbay (29/11/2022, 09:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Usually, there are a few who don't want to leave the plantation, but here in the VI, it appears to be a lot.
  • ... (29/11/2022, 11:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    nobody cant please yall misson thats why yall liked Fahie and the others smh.
  • bob marley (30/11/2022, 06:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just read these posts and you see that no one listened and understood Bob Marley's message.
    There is no freedom of mental slavery. They are still wrapped up in the colonial era of enslavement. Our minds are still enslaved so we think we are still in slavery. Every other post is about slavery and oppression. It is time to rise above those dark days in history. Not to prolonged and relive them. Do you hear the Israelis still wallowing about the Holocaust. Do you hear the English people wallowing about serfdom that was perpetrated by Royalties in the dark ages. Please use the knowledge gain from these tragedies of history, to developed yourselves and build great communities and country. The consciousness awakened by Marcus Garvey, Michael Manley and BOB Marley must be used more constructively. We need to move to the next stage, beyond mental slavery, its time for constructive livity.


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