Territorial Song and Dress taking shape!
According to Chairperson of the Ad-hoc Committee on Territorial Song and Dress, Ms. Eileene L. Parsons, both should be able to depict Virgin Islands culture and pride.
The colours of the Territorial Dress, she said, should include White, which is to show beautiful beaches; Green for verdant hills; Red to express the feisty nature of Virgin Islanders; Yellow to depict the rising sun and the beautiful sunset. “The skirt must be something depicting the Virgin Islands culture....A sailing boat, someone plaiting straw, a fungi band. I would even say one or two dancers. These are the things that we want to see depicted that when our people go abroad it says British Virgin Islands,” Ms. Parsons said.
Member of the Ad-hoc Committee on Territorial Song and Dress, Dr. Charles Wheatley, said the Territorial Song should be one that is inspirational and yet capture the spirit of life as lived by the people of the Territory. He also said it should not have a dance beat to it but rather something that has a stately ring to it.
The length he said would be about 3 stanzas with each stanzas containing not less than 6 to 8 lines. The words must also be simple.
There was much debate about what genre should be used as Ms. Parsons had stated that Calypso and Reggae were not of the Virgin Islands. The question was then asked what was the Virgin Islands genre to which she said there was none.
Persons are asked to submit either lyrics or a composition of what they felt should be the Territorial Song. Entries for both the Territorial Song and Dress competitions close on March 30, 2012.
The winner in each category would receive $1000, while second, third, fourth and fifth would receive $750, $500, $250 and $100 respectively.
Minister of Education and Culture Hon. Myron Walwyn announced last year the creation of a Territorial Song and Dress competition to help foster Virgin Islands pride. Since then, an ad-hoc committee was formed and is being spearheaded by former Culture Minister, Ms. Eileene L. Parsons. The development of a Territorial song and dress is in keeping with Government’s commitment to preserve, enhance and promote the Virgin Islands cultural identity.
“The creation of a territorial song and dress that embodies who we are as a people, will serve to infuse Virgin Islands pride and provide a greater sense of identity....This will help to develop confidence and self worth and build onnational unity, identity and culture that will benefit not only present, but future generations of Virgin Islanders,” Minister Walwyn had told Government Information Service (GIS).
Acknowledging a similar process which began in 2005, Minister Walwyn had said, “This new process will allow for entries from a wider base and give previous submissions the opportunity to redefine and submit their work.”
Following the collection of entries, the Ministry will seek active public participation in deciding the winning submissions after which the top two entries in each category would be taken to Cabinet to have the final say on which ones would be chosen.
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