‘I respect each & every religion’- Premier Fahie @ Holi celebrations
Holi is a popular ancient Indian festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It represents the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.
Persons on Monday used coloured powder to put on each other and also ensured both Premier Fahie and Dr Wheatley were fully coloured.
Premier Fahie remarked Holi is the one time that so many persons can accost a premier and not get arrested, adding that even the Minister for Education "slapped" him with some powder.
“I guess that is for some kind of money he didn’t get for some project and tell me ‘Happy Holi’ but I will see what he says tomorrow,” Premier Fahie said to a roar of laughter.
‘The foundation is love’
One a more serious note, Hon Fahie said he gave his word he would attend the occasion and reminded that he was also at the celebrations last year with the Minister for Education.
“It was not too long since we had taken office and we pledged that we would come again, both of us, and here we are, making sure that we join you in this festival of colours.”
The Premier explained that being a part of the celebrations symbolised his Government’s respect for all religious beliefs and the rights of persons and the need to unite the Virgin Islands.
“As a premier, I know where my religious beliefs are but I always tell people I keep my mind open and I respect each and every religion and I respect each and everyone’s right. But I know one thing, at the end of the day the foundation of it is love. Once we can operate on the areas we have that can unite us, which is love, then the rest to get the BVI going is a piece of cake.”
‘All of us will have to play our part’
Honourable Fahie also used the opportunity to express appreciation to the persons in the Hindu community who have contributed positively to the Territory over the years.
“Most of you I know my entire life and some of you know me since I was born because some of you have been here so long and you have contributed positively.
“And that is why we say we try to unite the BVI. It is the only way to move forward,” Premier Fahie said, adding it is one of the reasons his Government moved ahead boldly with the ‘fast track’ regularisation programme.
“It got some heat but I just coloured it so that it looks like love….so that we can all grow because the best days of the BVI are still yet ahead and all of us will have to play our part…because once you living somewhere you have to give the place your all, you have to give it your heart, you have to give it your full love because love triumphs hate and everything that is negative.”
‘We teach our children to hate’
Speaking on the celebration of Holi, Premier Fahie said “One of the things that we understand when you colour persons, we remove the faces, everyone looks the same. It shows that love has no boundaries. It is the same when you have children in daycare, when you have them playing, the love is so pure, it is just like colours but we teach them to hate because when they grow older that is when the division starts."
He added: “But that is not in them, that is something adults put in them but if we treat our children the same way we celebrate the festival of colours and the same way they enjoy themselves in the daycare centres what a beautiful world it would be based on love.”
Premier Fahie also reminded that one of the logos being promoted is ‘BVI Love’. “How do we build the BVI again through love, love for our family, our brothers and sisters.”
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