Roadtown, Tortola - Good day I am Andrew Fahie, Minister of Education and Culture. Today I join the Department of Culture and the entire Territory to celebrate International Museum Day. Several countries across the world are celebrating today the historical content within museums and the important role that their museums play in their culture and for the people.

The BVI is no different and this year, as the theme for the day is ‘Museums and Tourism’ it will serve this Territory well as we are always seeking to better our tourism product. Though I am not responsible for tourism, as a leader and a citizen of this country, I know the importance of tourism to our economy and I know the importance of every dollar in our economy in these difficult times.

International Museum Day provides the unique opportunity for separate departments and products to come together to assist our economy by boosting the tourism product.

This celebration is only for one day, but museums and our history are for a lifetime and therefore I invite you to take the time to visit any of the museums that are found around the Territory and are opened for your convenience. In this regard, the Department of Culture will in turn launch a Territory-wide campaign to make residents and visitors aware of the museums in the Territory. Two printed materials were made that will help you to “Find Yourself in a Museum” and the other invites you to explore “Our History in our Backyard” In addition, a 10 minute and 30 minute video showcasing the museums have been airing on all local television stations.

For a tour of our maritime museum and to pay homage to the shipwrights of the Territory, visit the Maritime Museum housed at the Centre for Applied Marine Studies at the HLSCC.

You can also step back in time, as far back as 1780 at the Lower Estate Sugar Works museum located at John’s Hole, Tortola.

Our administrative history is preserved at the Old Government House Museum and the indigenous history of our islands and people are ingeniously presented at the VI Folk Museum found on Main Street, Tortola. Opening hours for each museum vary. You can call the Department of Culture for more information.

Thank you for listening and I look forward to seeing you inside one of the many Museums of the Virgin Islands.