B.V.I. Friday, February 13 – Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE has expressed sincere gratitude to Director of the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, Captain Baboucar Sallah for his presentation of an official flag (The Union Jack) and flag pole to the Claudia Creque Educational Centre on Anegada making it the first school in the Territory to be the proud owner of such.

At the presentation earlier this week, Honourable O’Neal thanked Captain Sallah for his continuously demonstrated commitment to uplifting the Territory. The Premier, who is also the District 9 Representative, encouraged his fellow members of the House of the Assembly to donate official flags and flag poles to the schools in the Territory.

Honourable O’Neal said the presence of a flag in the school will help students learn more about what it means. “It means a lot when a country recognises the flag and perhaps one of these days, the BVI will have its own flag. If we respect this one, we will also learn to respect our own when we get it,” the Premier told those gathered for the occasion.

He also encouraged the students and teachers of the institution to take proper care of the new gifts, ensuring that they remain in good condition.

Deputy Premier Honourable Dancia Penn said the need for the flag was brought to her attention at the ceremony to rename the school last year, a fact she subsequently shared with Captain Sallah who immediately promised to donate one.

Like the Premier, Honourable Penn commended Captain Sallah for his ongoing commitment. “He is one of those people once he has an idea he pursues it; so he has worked very quietly behind the scenes over the last few months,” Honourable Penn said, adding that it is good to witness the culmination of his efforts with the hoisting of the flag.

The Deputy Premier shared with those present, some information on flags. “Flags are one of the oldest forms of communication and have also been used by people as a means of identity. They emphasise who we are, where we come from, what we do and what our aims are. They are used to communicate without speech, revealing messages through the colours, emblems and shapes that each has an individual significance,” Honourable Penn stated.

She also expressed a desire to see flags at all of the schools in the Territory so that children can be made more aware of their significance.

In his remarks, Captain Sallah said flags should be held in high esteem and children must understand that they are a symbol of our identity. “We have to understand what a flag is; it is not just a piece of rag; it is a symbol and an emblem for us to tell ourselves and the whole world who we are and what we stand for,” he stated.

Captain Sallah also offered the students a brief overview of the Union Jack and the meaning of the various symbols as well as the Blue, Red and White Ensigns, flown on Government buildings; commercial buildings and merchant ships; and the Royal Navy ships respectively.

The Deputy Premier and Captain Sallah also presented a book titled The Illustrated Guide to Flags to Principal of the Claudia Creque Educational Centre, Mrs. Erma Vanterpool.

As a United Kingdom Overseas Territory, the official flag of the Virgin Islands (UK) is the Union Jack and the Territorial Flag is blue and features a combination of the Union Jack in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islands’ coat of arms centred in the outer half of the flag.