Roadtown, Tortola - Premier and Minister for Tourism, Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE is encouraging residents of the Territory to visit the local museums and get better acquainted with the history and culture of the Virgin Islands.

His remarks come on the occasion of International Museum Day, as the Territory joins in the worldwide observation today May 18, under the theme Museums and Tourism.

Endorsing efforts made to observe the day locally, the Premier stated, “museums are important institutions in our Territory so that visitors and residents can know about us.” 

The BVI Tourist Board (BVITB) recently launched an initiative to promote the history and culture of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Culture has partnered with the BVITB to provide guided tours of local museums on International Museum Day.

A project titled Research and Present a Museum, targeted at primary school teachers in the Territory, is also underway. The project is designed to ensure that teachers are fully aware of the museums in the Territory and their contents, and be better able to share this knowledge with students.

Honourable O’Neal regards these initiatives favourably. “Museums help the younger generation to appreciate the various periods a country passes through,” the tourism minister stated, adding that “visitors can gather information about the history, culture, customs and traditions of our people.”

Underscoring the importance of artefacts found in local museums, Honourable O’Neal said “sometimes we may think an old piece of tool is of no use, but yes people can see how we built houses and boats long ago.”

The Premier and Minister for Tourism is not alone in his endorsement of International Museum Day and the initiatives being taken. Education and Culture Minister, Honourable Andrew Fahie, will also deliver an address in observation of the day.

The Territory is home to several museums. Among them are the VI Maritime Museum at the Centre for Applied Marine Studies at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College; the 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum; the Old Government House Museum and the VI Folk Museum.

International Museum Day has been observed worldwide since 1977 with the goal of promoting museums as institutions to enrichment and exchange of cultures, and promote mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among people.