2023 'Great March' commemoration holiday to feature 3 days of activities
A revised schedule from the Government Information Service (GIS) detailed that Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 3:00 pm, will see the release of new theme music including ‘Calypso Song’ by Rosie Smith and ‘March’ by Raul ‘Jugo’ Sprauve.
Sunday, November 23, 2023, at 6:00 pm, features the premiere of the Documentary “History of the 1949 Great March and Restoration of the Legislative Council' by Dr Angel Smith along with Reflections on the 1949 Great March by Members of the House of Assembly.
The Holiday on Monday, November 27, 2023, will feature a statement by Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) with all items to be featured on the Facebook and YouTube pages of the Government of the VI, along with content being made on ZBVI 780am radio.
A defining day in VI History
The 1949 Great March and Restoration Day holiday commemorates the historic demonstration on Sunday, 24th November 1949 that was led by Theodolph H. Faulkner, Isaac “Glanny” Fonseca, Carlton deCastro, and over 1,500 Virgin Islanders who marched through the streets of Road Town to the Commissioner’s Office (today known as the Governor’s Office) in protest of issues significantly affecting the quality of the lives of Virgin Islanders.
The demonstrators presented the Commissioner with a petition that highlighted their grievances with the political system, which was administered from Antigua at the time.
The demonstration served as a catalyst for political development in the Territory, leading to the restoration of the Legislative Council and the evolution of the modern Virgin Islands.
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30 Responses to “2023 'Great March' commemoration holiday to feature 3 days of activities”
The Great March yielded results in 1950,, ie, a) reinstating the Legislature, which was suspended in 1901, b) granting of the first modern constitution in 1950, c) granting locals for the first time in history the opportunity to vote directly for 4 At Large members to the Legislative Council, d) attaining universal suffrage in 1954. Prior to the 1954 granting of universal suffrage, there was a poll tax, ie, locals could not vote if they were not literate or owned property among other requirements.
Virgin Islanders of the 1949 era had that signature Virgin Islander rugged individualism, they had heart, courage, unselfishness, willing to sacrifice for the public good, etc. They were willing to build a wall to resist the threatening rising tide. The Virgin Islands [British ]have digressed, slipped backwards. Virgin Islanders are more interested in materialism, ie, the Bigs, big job, big house, big car, high fashion, than fighting for basic human rights, equal justice, democracy, etc. Today, it is a heavy lift, Herculean tasks to get 10 people to show us for a protest. Current generations of Virgin Islanders are missing the boat that numbers matter and power and money follows the numbers. Where have the Theodolph Faulkner, Noel Lloyd, Christopher Fleming and other national heroes gone? Virgin Islanders must fight for their rights or stagnate and stay subservient.
Where is the location of the Saturday and Sunday activities or are they online somewhere?