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Virgin Islands Day being observed for very first time today, July 5, 2021

- shift to Virgin Islands Day reflects a renewed sense of national consciousness- Dr the Hon Wheatley
The Virgin Islands is observing a public holiday, Virgin Islands Day, today, Monday, July 5, 2021, for the first very time. Photo: VINO/File
According to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in a statement today, July 5, 2021, the shift from Territory Day to now Virgin Islands Day reflects a renewed sense of national consciousness and represents an effort to assert our unique identity as Virgin Islanders. Photo: VINO/File
According to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in a statement today, July 5, 2021, the shift from Territory Day to now Virgin Islands Day reflects a renewed sense of national consciousness and represents an effort to assert our unique identity as Virgin Islanders. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands is observing a public holiday, Virgin Islands Day, today, Monday, July 5, 2021, for the very first time.

Following the advice of the BVI Public Holidays Review Committee, Cabinet decided on December 2, 2020 that Territory Day would be replaced by Virgin Islands Day.

According to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in a statement today, the shift from Territory Day to now Virgin Islands Day reflects a renewed sense of national consciousness and represents an effort to assert our unique identity as Virgin Islanders.

“It is a recognition that as Virgin Islanders that are a part of the Caribbean family, we have a distinct and separate culture and history that have shaped us to who we are today.”

History

Sharing some history, Dr Wheatley said Territory Day came about when the Colony of the Leeward Islands was dissolved and the Virgin Islands became a stand-alone Colony of the United Kingdom on July 1, 1956.  Before 1978 the holiday was named, Colony Day as it was thought that ‘Territory’ was a more appropriate name than ‘Colony’.

He said as a stand-alone Colony, the Virgin Islands legislature could then make laws for itself rather than having laws imposed on it by a federal legislature; therefore, this change represented greater autonomy for our legislature.

Dr Wheatley also reminded that in efforts to become a more self-determined people, Cabinet of the Virgin Islands approved new holidays from this year moving forward, such as Heroes Day in October and 1949 March and Restoration Day in November.

“We will use these days to continue to celebrate our heroes, our political autonomy, certain events in our history, our past legislators, and the like,” Dr Wheatley stated.

19 Responses to “Virgin Islands Day being observed for very first time today, July 5, 2021”

  • Large up (05/07/2021, 10:13) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    BVI is my vi for life
  • Smh sell ouht (05/07/2021, 10:18) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Look at this one here, the man who said to me he would never take the jab, what contract did you sign that made a man like you go against his words and his people
  • Clapping (05/07/2021, 10:22) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Clapping clapping
  • keep cool (05/07/2021, 10:24) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    should be a day to remember especially under the current conditions. as a people we should be more together won’t hold my breath on that
  • My girl (05/07/2021, 11:06) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Clap clap clap
  • Why BVI (05/07/2021, 12:14) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    Please add the B (British) back to the BVI, The US (United States) USVI did not drop part of their abbreviation. I am tired of having to explain the difference.
    • guy hill (05/07/2021, 21:02) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      The "BVI" name is originally The Virgin Islands. Don't let colonialism keep you mind confuse with confusion.
    • Two Cent (06/07/2021, 14:23) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      The Territory of the Virgin Islands official name was never British Virgin Islands. For more than a century the now Virgin Islands of the United States (often called U.S. Virgin Islands) was the Danish West Indies. In 1917 they were named Virgin Islands of the United States (this does not dispute them being part of archipelago of the Virgin Islands). We do not need to add no "B". We actually have use B more than they use US. It is like they just hijack the name Virgin Islands, like only people in the United States can be referred to as Americans, when there is so many countries in the Americas.
  • NewVI (05/07/2021, 12:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its very important that we remove all forms of that wicked past.
    • NezRez (05/07/2021, 13:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @NewVI...yes, remove the offending things right in front of our faces, but let us never forget our history and what was done to us. If we don’t remember the horrors placed upon us, it can happen again. Don’t sleep on this, but always keep your eyes and ears open because there are many who think they have the right to enslave others. How do you own another human being and think it is alright?
  • No (05/07/2021, 13:56) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    The old name was better. It implied an off the beaten track nature's little secret group of unexplored islands in the Caribbean. Virgin Islands day reads/sounds like a shopping day trip to St. Thomas. Please revive the old Territory Day name.
  • Virgin Islands (05/07/2021, 15:15) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don’t add no B to Virgin Islands. I remember Donald Decastro telling me this. We the original Virgin Islands. Happy Virgin Islands
  • WHY THE CHANGE?? (05/07/2021, 16:44) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Territory day was much, much better and more appropriate than this new change. We just cannot do things because we got the power to do it....We realize everything been pushed s
    Down our throat, we have no in put... Wonder why we need the COI.
  • Why continue fooling ourrselves? (05/07/2021, 16:46) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Until we get independence grsnted to us by the UK, we remain the "BRITIDH VIRGIN ISLANDS." When will some us get this facts in their self-denying brain? In addition to this, we are now too divided against each others. What independence are some os talking about.? True, we do need independence, but first from ignorance, disunity, Pride, and selfishness. Please, let us work as one to help lower the covid-19 number to at lease a single digit figure. This should be one of our greater concern at this time. Oh! I almost forgot. And let us practice genuine love for each other, by words and actions, God being our helper. Amen.
  • pat (05/07/2021, 16:47) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The british are to wicked keep the b OUT
  • BIG YOUTH (05/07/2021, 20:30) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    IS AT IT AGAIN , IS THAT GOING TO HIDE THE FACTS OR JUST SUGAR COATING THE FACTS ( I GUESS HE CAN POUND HIS CHEST FOR SUCH A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE BVI HISTORY "
  • hm (05/07/2021, 21:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This gives me 4th of July vibes… 5th of July..Why not just rename territory day?…


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