Roadtown, Tortola - Residents of the Territory turned out in their numbers to join representatives from the United States Virgin Islands for the 36th BVI/USVI Friendship Day celebration.
Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE led a group of senior Government officials to welcome their USVI counterparts at the Road Town Ferry Dock, following which they were treated to breakfast at Government House, hosted by His Excellency Governor David Pearey.
The colourful celebration at the Noel Lloyd/Positive Action Movement Park attracted both the young and old for a re-enactment of a traditional harvest.
In his welcome remarks, Governor Pearey told the gathering that while he is a relative newcomer to the BVI, “the value of these events, these cultural exchanges simply cannot be over-emphasised, they are extraordinarily important.”
The Governor added that “in the rush for success, in the rush for progress, or maybe at the present time, in the urgency of meeting some of the economic challenges that face us, it is all too easy to forget some of the most important things in our lives. It is all too easy to forget our roots, our heritage, to forget our friends and our family.”
According to the Governor, events such as BVI/USVI Friendship Day help us to celebrate “the rich and compelling culture of the Virgin Islands.”
In his turn at the microphone, the Honourable Premier noted that the friendship between the two sets of Virgin Islands has endured despite many difficulties.
“Despite many problems, our people have managed to live together and to work together and governments have respected each other and it is my hope and prayer that this would continue,” Honourable O’Neal said.
He added that “all around the world today, nations are getting together in order to survive, in order to flourish and in order to live in peace and harmony with each other.”
In his response, USVI Governor His Excellency John P. de Jongh Jr. thanked the BVI Government and people for their hospitality and noted that the BVI and USVI share many commonalities. “There is a commonality of purpose with each of us as we address hurricanes, as we address disasters, as we deal with issues of water and power and as we deal with issues of climate,” the USVI Governor said.
Saturday’s ceremony also included among other things some spirited recitations; a dance by the Liturgical Dancers; a two-part narration of the Virgin Islands harvest tradition by Dr. Christine Hodge; a solo by Ms. Velma Chung.
The much anticipated harvest march did not disappoint as a variety of produce was paraded through the gathering, with some of the older BVIslanders demonstrating exactly how it was done in years gone by.
The bountiful harvest showcased a range of produce including bananas, coconuts, mangoes, pineapples, breadfruit, okras and peppers among others as well as a variety of baked goods including cassava bread, sugar cakes and tarts.
At the luncheon which followed at the Treasure Isle Hotel, a number of toasts were made to the President of the United States, Barack Obama, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the senators of the USVI Legislature, the members of the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands (UK) and the Governments and people of both sets of Virgin Islands. The event culminated with an exchange of gifts between senior Government officials.
BVI/USVI Friendship Day was first celebrated in 1972 in an attempt to strengthen the traditional close ties between the two groups of Virgin Islands. The territories host the celebration in alternate years.
British Virgin Islands News