Roadtown, Tortola - As the Minister for Education and Culture with responsibility for sports I am delighted to be able to join the Territory in congratulating our Territory’s athletes on the remarkable job they have done in representing the Territory at home and abroad over the past weekend. This has been an exciting weekend for athleticism as an exceptional group of athletes have represented us in both basketball and track and field.

Not only did Team BVI win a silver medal at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Senior Men’s Tournament, but they were able to win this medal here at our Multipurpose Sports Complex. The Government of the Virgin Islands has spent time and money to make sure that facilities that benefit our athletes and Territory as a whole are at the best level and this weekend as the Multipurpose Complex was filled to capacity we were able to see the benefit of the facility to the Territory and our Team. 

I congratulate Team Coaches Keith Malone and Brian Brewley and Team Manager Allen Hodge on a job well done in training and conditioning the team for these games. I must also individually congratulate Team Captain Kennedy Bass, Avery Percival, Chaurbain Smith, Gary Hillhouse, Halstead Chiverton, Jovaughn Cameron, Ade Moore, Steve Parillon, Kleon Penn, Leslee Smith, Randy George and Trevon Lewis for playing the best games of basketball I have seen this year. What you 12 gentlemen did in uniting our Territory and causing us to come together as a BVI people to support our team, will be marked as one of the largest outpourings of Territory pride in our history.

While Team Cuba was winning a bronze medal at the CBC Tournament our track and field athletes were making history in Havana, Cuba.  For the first time we fielded a women’s team at a senior championship. Samantha John, Chantel Malone, Ashley Kelly and Dominique Maloney shattered the Territory record in the 4x 400 metre relay race as they ran 3:37.62 over the previous record that was set earlier this year. Your performance has made you qualify for the World Junior Championships and I assure you that the Territory will be in full support of you all when you get there.

Tahesia Harrigan won a gold medal for the British Virgin Islands in the 100 metre dash adding to the Territory’s medal count. At the end of the games the BVI placed 14th in a field of 24 countries present and placed 10th in the medal standing of the 20 teams that scored. I wish to congratulate Ms. Harrigan on her personal success and thank her for making the Territory proud. 

To her team mates Samantha John, Chantel Malone, Ashley Kelly, Dominique Maloney, Omar Jones, Kevin Fahie your team of coaches, my heartfelt congratulations is extended to you all for continuously improving your performances in your sport and for representing the Territory with a high level of excellence.

All our athletes have exhibited that the Olympic motto ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ which means swifter, higher, stronger is alive in their hearts. Through all you have achieved you are truly taking our sporting culture from good to great. Congratulations and may the Great God of the Universe continue to bless you in your athletic pursuits.

Hon. Andrew Fahie
Minister of Education and Culture