B.V.I. Wednesday, February 25 – Residents of the Territory are being urged to turn out in the numbers on Sunday March 1 as the Government pays tribute to the men and women of the Positive Active Movement by re-naming the Palm Grove Park in their honour.

The Noel Lloyd/ Positive Action Movement Park will be so named after an official re-naming ceremony, scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.

As it honours the lives and the significant contributions of the men and women, who through their steely determination and peaceful protest succeeded in securing the legacy of the BVI, Government will be recording a momentous milestone in the development of the Virgin Islands (UK).

In a GIS Radio Report aired this week, Liaison Officer for Major Investment Projects in the Premier’s Office, Mr. Keith Dawson described Sunday’s re-naming ceremony as “an auspicious and historic occasion” and he encouraged residents to be part of it.

“Mr. Lloyd and his colleagues have given their lives, because there are some persons who paid a heavy price for what we enjoy today. In that context, I would like to encourage every BVIslander and resident of this Territory to come out,” Mr. Dawson said.

To the foreign nationals who conduct business on Wickham’s Cay, Mr. Dawson said “if you are working or residing in the Territory, you are enjoying the fruit of the labours of Mr. Noel Lloyd and the Positive Action Movement so I will encourage you to come out and show your support and your solidarity.”

Mr. Dawson is confident that the honouring of Mr. Lloyd and the other members of the Positive Action Movement will help to inspire others to make their own contributions to the overall development of the Territory. “I believe it will be a great inspiration to the members of this community knowing that through their individual or collective efforts, they are able to achieve great things,” he said.

Citing the work of the Positive Action Movement as “a great example of courage, determination and what is possible,” Mr. Dawson said “this is showing us that the individual and collective efforts of persons in the community can make a difference and you should not be discouraged.”

He added, “Your recognition might not come today, but it will some day come in the annals of history.”

Sunday’s ceremony will include remarks from Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE, Fourth District Representative, Dr. the Hon. Vincent Scatliffe and members of the Positive Action Movement.

There will also be a history of Wickham’s Cay Mrs. Jennie Wheatley, a tribute by the daughter of the late Noel Lloyd, Mrs. Sarah Lloyd Gomez and musical renditions from the Elmore Stoutt High Steel Band and the BVI Music Association.

A statue of Mr. Lloyd will also be unveiled as well as a plaque depicting the history of the Positive Action Movement’s opposition to the Bates-Hill agreement that granted two 199-leases to the British company, giving them control of much of Wickham’s Cay and three-quarters of Anegada.

Government is committed to recognising and paying tribute to the many stalwarts of the Territory who have selflessly contributed in one way or another to the development of the Territory.