ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, July 25th, 2012 – History was made last evening when members of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly selected the Territorial Song and Dress, symbols which will evoke Virgin Islanders culture, pride and identity.
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn moved the resolution yesterday, July 24 at the eight sitting of the first session of the second House of Assembly.
The resolution was passed by the House which selected option number three “Oh Beautiful Virgin Islands” as the Territorial Song and option number one of the male attire and option number two of the female attire for the Territorial Dress.
Each submission received ten votes. Two members were absent and a third member abstained from voting.
Highlighting the importance of the Territorial Dress Minister Walwyn said, “We must have something that carves out our identity so that when we go overseas or gather anywhere we can say that this person is dressed in the Territorial Dress of the Virgin Islands. That is why this is very significant for us.”
The Minister stated that “We have to take culture seriously,” adding that the “Territorial dress should be the accepted attire for any occasion and the Territorial Song should be sung at every official function in the Virgin Islands.”
“We want to ensure that we build strong citizens with a sense of identity and feeling,” the Culture Minister said.
Minister Walwyn, thanked the members of the House of Assembly for their contribution to what he called a “historical occasion”.
He also thanked a number of key persons involved in the process including members of the Territorial Song and Dress Ad-hoc Committee, the finalists in the Territorial Song and Dress competitions and Mr. Keiron Harry who designed the Virgin Islands print.
Minister Walwyn said that even though they can only select one song, it is important that persons learn the other songs as they are “very useful in evoking the rich culture of the Virgin Islands”.
The Minister said that efforts will be made to have the words of the Territorial song known to all residents so that it may be sung at official activities.
The Culture Minister said that the Territorial Song would not compete with the national anthem, as it will be sung directly after. The Minister also noted that the song should be sung everyday in the schools and he will bring forth a Cabinet paper to support such.
Oh Beautiful Virgin Islands was written by the brother and sister team of Kareem Nelson Hull and Ayana Hull while designers Kristin Frazer and Florence Phillips collaborated on the Territorial Dress.
The creation of the Territorial Song and Dress is in keeping with Government’s commitment to preserve, enhance and promote the Virgin Islands Cultural identity.
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