Hundreds re-enact 1949 Great March in VI
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The Virgin Islands (VI) commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Great March of 1949 on Sunday, November 24, 2024, under the theme ‘A Milestone and a Movement’.
The march saw participation from hundreds of persons representing all factions of VI society, from political figures to various organisations, churches and school students. The march began from the Road Town Bandstand and proceeded to Sir Olva Georges Plaza, along Main Street.
A different reality without Great March- Premier Wheatley
During the ceremony, Premier Wheatley (R7) said, “The Virgin Islands we know and love today, the development we see all around us today, the rights and privileges we enjoy today and the lifestyle and quality of life we have today would perhaps not exist without the movement that drove the Great March in 1949. We would have been living a different reality.”
Movements he said can change the world. They can get laws changed, passed and enforced, and lead to advancing social, political, economic justice for marginalised groups which change culture and how people behave.
Virgin Islands’ historical records, the Premier said, has an “esteemed cadre of leaders” in the persons of Theodolph Faulkner, Isaac “Glanny” Fonseca, and Carlton de Castro, who led the march through the streets of Road Town to the office of the Commissioner to air the grievances of residents.
Great March resulted in return of legislature- Premier Wheatley
“The result of the Great March was the return of the legislature to the Virgin Islands,” Premier Wheatley said.
In order to appreciate the Great March’s impact, one must imagine what life in the Virgin Islands would be like had the legislative function not been restored in 1950 and instead continued to take place on foreign soil without the input of the local population, he continued.
“We must imagine what it would be like to not participate in the democratic process of electing our representatives and our government. Consider what it would be like for other persons knowing nothing about this place or our heritage, customs and traditions, making and imposing decisions on us,” Dr Wheatley stated.
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17 Responses to “Hundreds re-enact 1949 Great March in VI”
Consequently, the people, led by national hero and Anegadian fisherman and businessman, got fed up and organized the Great March of 24 November 1949. The protest started from the historical band stand close to E. Walwyn Brewley Softball Complex through Main Street down to Government House ( Mount Olympus), delivering a petition to Administrator John Agustus Cockburn Cruikshank who was residence in the BVI from 1946-1954 ( he thought he owned the place . Acting like master he all he surveyed).He supposedly accepted the petition. A huge crowd of 1500 from the length and breadth of the BVI participated and engaged in the March protest. Did the March get results?
Yes. It resulted in the legislature, which was suspended in 1901, being activated in 1950, a constitution coming on line, along with a general election in 1950 , and for the first time the lil man got the right and opportunity to vote directly for 4 at large members to the legislature. This change and progress manifested into the ushering in of ministerial government in 1967. Additionally, this progress drove the transition from subsistence agriculture to services . Today,,the BVI economy is buoyed by the twin pillars of the economy—-tourism and financial serves. This transition and transformation resulted in the BVI having one of the highest standards of living, quality of life and per capita income in the region..
Moreover, this history of the Great March was not taught in school or discussed much by our parents. Consequently,,many Virgin Islanders, including the highly educated, don’t know the history. Marcus: “ A people without knowledge of the origins, culture and history, are like a tree without roots.” Without knowledge of the past, Boomer, Gen X, Gen Y(millennial), Gen Z, Gen Alpha Virgin Islanders make a bad assumption that the status, conditions, etc., are given , were always this way, etc. They don’t realized that what they are enjoying today prior generations of Virgin Islanders had to fight, protest, demonstrate, endure personal sacrifices to attain, making life better for the us.
This indifference, nonchalant, lackadaisical, etc attitude and behavior are reflected in the relatively small turn out for the 75th Anniy of the Great March commemoration..However, what they are grossly failing to realized is that same battles fought by the unselfish Great Marchers need to be fought again.
Question: why did yesterday’s march stopped at the Sir Olva George’s Plaza, not at Government where the original March ended with the delivering of the petition? Were the organizers afraid of making UK-appointed Governor Daniel Pruce uncomfortable? Why many of the people are ranting about self determination didn’t tun up for the march? Disappointing. Opportunists are all they are..
"Whereas the lil man is at the bottom struggling, believing nothing is going to t change so why bother"
This is also very true. Speak to the people on the street and they have no belief government will change anything positive in a quick time frame. If it isnt about them controlling resources it isnt going to happen.