B.V.I. Thursday, 1 July, 2010 (GIS Press Release) - Ladies and gentlemen, today Thursday, 1 July marks a very significant milestone in the political history of these Virgin Islands. While many English speaking Caribbean countries celebrate an Independence Day marking the date they gained political independence from the United Kingdom, every year the British Virgin Islands observes 1 July as Territory Day as we tread the road towards self-determination.

Fifty-four years ago on 1 July, 1956 the constitutional status of the British Virgin Islands changed from a presidency to that of a colony with a greater degree of self-government than was previously enjoyed. This change was facilitated by the de-federation or dissolution of the Leeward Islands Colony, which existed since 1871. The other presidencies of the Ancient Federation were Antigua, St Kitts-Nevis, Anguilla, and Montserrat. Our thanks continue to go out to the Honourable Howard R. Penn, the Honourable Isaac Fonseca, the Honourable Carlton DeCastro and the Honourable Charles Brudenell-Bruce for their wisdom, vision and foresightedness for the part they played in keeping us out of the ill-fated West Indies Federation.

Our historical records show that to mark this historic event in the Territory on 1 July, 1956, a special service was held following a march pass of various organisations. The salute was taken by the acting administrator at the Old Administration Building on Main Street across from the now Sir Olva Georges Plaza in Road Town. I am told that officiating at the ceremony were the two Methodist ministers, Reverend D.O. Fields and Reverend D. C. Henry.

During the service several addresses were delivered, including a tape-recorded address by His Excellency the Governor and the last Governor of the Leeward Islands, Sir Alexander Thomas Williams in Antigua.

The following day, Monday, 2 July, 1956 was declared a public holiday and a tape recording of the special service was relayed to the sister islands by radio telephone. In particular it was reported that in Anegada the broadcast was listened to by a large gathering. This broadcast most probably was the first of its kind in the Virgin Islands since the said radio telephone was newly installed as a means of communicating with the sister islands.

In recognition of the significance of this event, the Legislative Council at its 16th Sitting on 10 July, 1956 passed a Resolution of Loyalty to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In the preamble to the resolution, it was noted that assurances were received that Her Majesty’s Government would respect the wishes of the people of the Territory with regards to development towards self-government and economic progress. At the said sitting, the Council was also informed that a new seal which was designed for the Territory was received and that it would be kept at the Administrator’s Office now Governor’s Office.

Virgin Islanders, this event clearly positioned the British Virgin Islands on the path to nationhood. In this regard it should be noted that on November 15, 1960 Her Majesty approved Armorial Ensigns (Coat of Arms) for the Territory to be used on seals, banners, and flags or otherwise.

Ladies and gentlemen, 1 July, 2010 therefore marks the 54th anniversary since the Virgin Islands became a Territory. It is interesting to note that Territory Day was previously observed as Colony Day but with the negative connotation of the word colony, the holiday was changed in 1978 to Territory Day in the Schedule to the Public Holidays Act. It is interesting to note that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office changed our designation from colony some 20 years after (1998) to Overseas Territory.

I want to especially encourage all BVIslanders to learn more about and understand the significance of Territory Day. It is important that we all understand the observance of Territory Day which stems from the 1956 dissolution of the Federation of the Leeward Islands of which the BVI was a part.

The federation dissolved because Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla and Montserrat joined the West Indies Federation. The BVI did not become party to the West Indies Federation because the legislators at the time did not think it was in the best interest of the Territory and the fact that most of the Territory’s trade was with St. Thomas in the United Stated Virgin Islands.

With the dissolution of the federation, the presidency of the Virgin Islands ceased to exist and the Colony of the Virgin Islands came into being. When we became a separate colony, we were given more autonomy. As little as it may seem, we were more involved in governing ourselves; we had our own Legislative Council that made the laws and the Executive Council which made policy and our own Offices Administering the Government (OAG) called an Administrator.

Ladies and gentlemen with this new status as a Territory, there were many changes, for example, the title of the Officer from The Colonial Office changed from Commissioner to Administrator and then to Governor. The date, 1 July, 1956, when we became a separate colony, was of great significance to us because the BVI no longer had to send official communication to England through Antigua because the Governor dealt with correspondence with the Colonial Office. In addition we dealt directly with them and that helped to expedite matters and as a result England took more interest in the Territory.

I am urging residents to understand the political history of the Territory because I firmly believe that the hamstring of colonialism still exists but we could see it evolving into more autonomy year by year. In my opinion we have not yet achieved the political maturity I would like to see but it is much better and we have developed to a Cabinet system form of Government.

I participated in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Territory of the Virgin Islands in the year 2006 at the Sir Olva Georges Plaza. At that time I thanked the generations of BVIslanders who had the fortitude to chart our political course at a time when it is was not popular to do so as a small Territory. That is why I firmly believe, because of the significance of Territory Day, our school children and generations to come should continue to know what this day is all about and why it is celebrated.

I regard the day as a sacred moment in the life of the Territory. I believe in giving thanks always for the liberation of the BVI from what was the Leeward Islands Colony, and this was a great moment in the lives of our people. With this liberation, BVIslanders had the opportunity to show what they could accomplish. When we look back and see what the BVI has achieved from 1956 to 2010, it is almost unbelievable, so we have to thank God for those men who stood up for us.

On this year’s observance of Territory Day I call on all Virgin Islanders to actively participate in Territory-building. The onus is on all of us to ensure that we can restore and strengthen the moral fabric of this Territory. The onus is on us to ensure that we actively participate and contribute to the effective development of our Territory.

Parents you must know and ensure that you teach our children what are the Territory’s symbols of pride–– our flag, our buildings, our people, our food, our music, our flower, our trees, our fruits. Certainly by next year 1st July when I address the Territory, I hope to introduce the official Territory Song which I propose will be always played following our National Anthem.

Ladies and gentlemen, since becoming a Territory in 1956, we have achieved a series of major political, social, economic and education milestones of which we can all be proud. Let us use this 54th Anniversary of the Observance of Territory Day to reflect on our journey and how we as a community can help to advance this place we call home for the benefit of our children and generations yet unborn to come. Let us all do our part to help build this Territory.