‘Stop calling yourselves the VI; We are the VI!’ – Donald E. de Castro
Mr de Castro’s contention was that on numerous occasions, the most recent being in 2008, he had written to several governing bodies of the United States Virgin Islands including Hon Christensen calling on them to stop referring to their Territory as the Virgin Islands and to this Territory as the British Virgin Islands.
He handed Hon Christensen a copy of his correspondence that he had sent her some years ago to which he had never received a reply.
However as the media proceeded to throw questions to the USVI Democratic candidates and this Territory was referred to as the ‘BVI’ in a question Mr. de Castro jumped out of his seat and in a very angry tone said, “You have no respect for our Territory’s name, I will not condone this, you have no respect,” as he angrily marched out of the room after handing Hon Christensen a copy of his old letter to her which she said she did not recall ever seeing before.
But Mr de Castro’s actions and approach to his personal debate were seen as unfounded in the given circumstances as the terms BVI, USVI and VI continued throughout the press conference. “We are the British Virgin Islands,” said another talk show host in the person of Mr Julio ‘Sam’ Henry of the television talk show ‘Speak Your Mind’.
According to Mr Henry while he understood where Mr de Castro was coming from there need not be an issue with the Territory being called BVI as it is well rooted in the names of many government and non-governmental arms of the Territory. He and others in the room referred to name such as BVI Electricity Corporation, BVI Tourist Board, BVI Cancer Society, BVI Health Services Authority, BVI Athletic Association just to name a few.
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76 Responses to “‘Stop calling yourselves the VI; We are the VI!’ – Donald E. de Castro”
Not only wasting time on this foolishness.....but he gonna wuk and wuk until he frig up the whole relationship between St. Thomas and Tortola. He need to go sit down wid he stupidness. I don't say he don't have a point. But my goodness, he taking this thing to far.
DONALD, WE GET THE POINT, NOW SIT YOUR A$$ DOWN. YOU DUN MANAGE TO TAKE THE "BRITISH" OUT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, WHAT THE "f" MORE YOU WANT?????????????
Like someone said above, I would invite Mr.DeCastro or rather, this paper to publish his argument if it has not already done so. We would like to know exactly what his contention is.
If this is no big deal and is so unimportant why hasn’t the USVI stopped referring to themselves as THE VI?
That name is a BRAND, every other V.I will appear to be 2nd hand copy.
It’s a shame that you (B)VIslanders don’t see how important this is to your islands. Someone has taken your name and renamed you.
But y’all never wake up until it’s too late.
Over time as both territories began to deveolop it's tourism product. The United States Virgin Islands started to reference themselves as the Virgin Islands and also began naming their governing bodies as Virgin Islands Police Department, Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue etc. whilst at the same time began to label this territory as the British Virgin Islands, a strategic move that unknowingly our leaders also indirectly began to address ourselves and label our government bodies the as B.V.I.A.A, B.V.I.E.C ect.
However the fact remains that our constitution is called the Virgin Islands Constitution. There is no official declaration that states this territory was ever named, or has had it's name changed to or should be referenced as British Virgin Islands. For the U.S.V.I. to market themselves as the Virgin Islands without consequence or uproar from this territory is brilliant for them, but detrimental for us.
Imagine starting a computer software buisness in the United States and trying to name it Microsoft, or Apple. It's as simple as that. Hats off to you Mr. Decastro for not forgetting about this issue, that although people may see as trivial, is indeed incredibly important to our identity as a territory to ourselves and the rest of the world.
Being angry, confrontational and offensive leaves people shell shocked rather than open to suggestion. It takes honey to attract bees Donald.
Additionally, has Donald never considered that another solution to USVI simply refraining from using our name, The Virgin Islands (which would make the true abbreviation TVI not VI), is to simply have us Officially Rename & Re-brand ourselves British Virgin Islands or any other such name as approved by Her Majesty, the Queen and her governing Officials?
I think the better thing to do is simply make it BVI/British... the official name if our constitution allows it; right down to a whole new or updated flag and coat of arms. And why not? We did recently change our Territorial/Cultural Wear and create a Territorial Song to foster and spread national pride, after all.
Virgin Islands/the Virgin Islands doesn't quite have the same ring as British Virgin Islands to me. BVI... it has such potential - WE have such potential... and if Tourist Board can truly find some talent and direction, if our people can keep our islands clean and natural, if our government can give up their corruption and greed, we can truly be a wondrous place for ourselves and for all the world to see and enjoy!
Read the what is says here is an excerpt "The official name of the British territory is the Virgin Islands, and the official name of the U.S. territory is the Virgin Islands of the United States. In practice, the two island groups are almost universally referred to as the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands."
Get back under your rock - the use of the word British is beneficial.
You can't just drop the US from the USVI and say they are the VI and then turn around and keep the B on the BVI. That makes no logical sense. We are all apart of the Virgin Islands; so refer to all the islands as the VIRGIN ISLANDS. The only time there should be a difference is when we need to be distinguished territory wise. Then we can use USVI or BVI.
Side note if anyone disagrees with me; I would like them to send me a picture or link of a USVI passport that has the words Virgin Islands on it...... here is a link to a picture of my Virgin Islands passport that I get from the passport office in Tortola. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f1/BVIPassport.jpg
The US Virgin Islands do not have any passport and you know that. Their passport will say the United States of America.
To the person who stated the USVI is the Danish West Indies -- the United States purchased the three Virgins in 1917 and Transfer Day celebration which is held annually marks the event.
The USA's official seal reflects the Virgin Islands of the United States.
Personally, I love my family, friends and colleagues and this issue will never impact those relationships. Never have and never will.
We are one people with very strong ties which will forever bind us.
THE WHOLE VIRGIN ISLANDS not just the USVI made the VI a tourist industry. You say most ppl in the work would assume BVIslanders are from USVI, let me educate you a little. Most people in the world don't even know the Virgin Islands exist that includes your mother land ppl in America. I have spoken to many Americans who think the Virgin Islands is some place off Africa or in Jamaica. I went to high school in Atl and they only acknowledge PR and Hawaii as being a party of the US. Truth be told it don't matter what side of the Virgin Islands anyone is from we are all looked at as one.
If the entire Virgin Islands made the tourist industry as you have claimed. Why is it then, that so many people from Tortola back in the sixties migrated to St Thomas to work in the hotels. Back in the sixties who were the majority of taxi drivers in St Thomas? Tolians. If the BVI had a vibrant tourist industry back then many of those people would not have migrated to the St Thomas to seek employment. You can't educate me about anything. I live it, I saw and thats the facts. I don't care what Americans say I know the facts. And then again it's according to what type of Americans you speak to. By race or economics. Again I don't expect anything better look at where you went to school in Atlanta??? Most African Americans don't even know their back yard much less anywhere else.
Perhaps we should be consideriing renaming both island groups based on their geographic positions relative to each other - us the Eastern Virgin Islands and them the Western Virgin Islands. With or without independence for either or both groups this might be the answer.