Host of the Speak Out BVI radio show said “I want to see that tradition of the bands maintained… and the young people become involved, because a country without a culture is nothing.” Photo:VINO

Host of the programme, Mr Doug Wheatley, expressed that she sang Christmas carols in the style that she has been taught. This, he said, came down through generations from her grandmother. He stressed that she was keeping that tradition alive and tipped his hat to her for doing so.

She sang tunes such as ‘Sound the Battle Cry’, ‘Once in Royal David City’ and ‘Christmas is Here’ among others, bringing back fond memories of yesteryear for many of the persons who called in to the program in praise of what she was doing.

The programme was aired against the backdrop of renewed calls made by Minister responsible for Culture, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, for the instillation of pride in the cultural heritage of persons around the Territory and especially students in the schools.

Mr Wheatley, who is also a staunch advocate of expressing pride through the cultural heritage of Virgin Islanders, expressed that he received a call from a friend who said that his efforts at bringing back the “old time way and the old time Christmas was not going to happen”.

He said he had been disappointed by the call and related, “if we want it to happen, it can happen… it’s not something that is beyond what we can do.”

The host continued, “I want to see that tradition of the bands maintained… and the young people become involved, because a country without a culture is nothing.”

“We have to have our culture and it has to be passed on from generation to generation… that is who we are as a people.” he added.

He further remarked that the days of yesteryear were “a wonderful time and I think we ought to do as much as we can to maintain that."

Ms Iona also said that “God told me that he gave me a voice to use and if I don’t use it he will take it from me."