Gov Rankin makes another pitch for war memorial to be built @ QE II Park
The Governor first made the call during the observance of Armistice Day at Government House on November 11, 2022.
His comments at the time were met with criticisms by many who felt a memorial to honour slaves who were brought against their will to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, and were made to toil on plantations, should be the first memorial to be established in the territory.
This time; however, Governor Rankin went into the archives to further justify his call for the war memorial.
Speaking at the wreath-laying ceremony at Government House on Armistice Day on November 11, 2023, Governor Rankin said he was wearing his poppy in memory of his father who served with the Royal Air Force in World War II.
He also said he was wearing it as a mark of my respect for all those, including veterans at the ceremony, who have served or continue to serve to protect the rights of freedom we enjoy, including here in these Virgin Islands.
Private Samuel Hodge is ‘one reason’ for war memorial- Gov Rankin
“I would also particularly remember today Private Samuel Hodge, who was born in Tortola in 1840. His name and story should be better known to all of us in the Virgin Islands. That is because Private Hodge received the Victoria Cross, the highest British award for bravery, for his actions while serving in the West India Regiment in Gambia in 1866. He was the first, and as far as I am aware, the only BVIslander to be awarded the Victoria Cross.”
Governor Rankin added that Hodge’s story is a remarkable one and that he was the “bravest soldier” in his regiment.
“That is one reason why I continue to hope that agreement can be reached for a War Memorial to be built in the Queen Elizabeth II Park. To help remember Samuel Hodge and to be a place for all in the BVI to pay respects to those who have served in the armed forces,” Governor Rankin stated.
Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy, is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.
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39 Responses to “Gov Rankin makes another pitch for war memorial to be built @ QE II Park”
War is a w**** people thing. B****$ are more concern about staying alive.
Many, if not all, of those African civil wars are caused by ‘Western Invaders’ who entering the Continent of Africa, split continent in spaces and exploited its natural resources and people. This caused land boundary issues, tribal disputes, poverty and wars that has lasted till today. Today, western exploitation in Africa still continues and you believe that you’ll can exploit us in the VI as well…believing us to be fools. You are mistaken!
The governors is out of touch of the plights of our people. He thinks only about his nationality and their historical experiences! His agenda is not the people of the Virgin Islands agenda! He needs to go back home!
More smoke and mirrors he looking for a place to put the names of w**** people please bvi do not fall for it
You all hit the nail on the head.
Slavery was the greatest crime against humanity. Slaves were captured in Africa, transported across the Atlantic in the most horrific animal-liked condition, worked like field animals, abused, dehumanized among other atrocities, their free labour exploited building economies, building individual fortunes, etc. Slaves benefitting nought from the fruits of their labour. Why is the Governor not calling for a Slave Memorial? Who was pfc Samuel Hodge? Was he a relative of murderer Arthur Hodge? Was he a descendant of slaves?
Moreover, the Governor needs to stop being an opportunist and hypocrite, using the sacrifice of a soldier to advance his agenda, self-serving interest. He does not give a rat’s ass about Virgin Islanders. The governor is advocating for rights and freedom while at the same time he advocated for the order in council to suspend the VI constitution and continues to advocate for maintaining the order in council. Additionally, he continues to use his unilateral veto power to promote UK interest and control. The colonial mule kicks and kicks hard.
It would make more sense to have a memorial for the slaves who died in the slave trade.
Should there be a memorial for slavery, absolutely... Something reminds me we have three public holidays in a row for this. How about some remembrance and respect for the over 38 million people who died resolving the fight for freedom afterwards, which was fought globally. Something tells me the Nazis would have either enslaves us all, or just sent us to the gas chambers and ovens.
It should be built with British money. Not tola money.
An old idiom says where a cow is tied is where it feeds. Governor John Rankin, CMG, other governors, administrators and commissioners were appointed by the Crown to represent whatever little interest there were in the VI, protect its image, maintain its presence and control. The VI people have never had any input or say as to whom was to represent they and their interests. Well, clearly, the Governor’s role is to represent the crown, not the VI people. Colonialism have always been about racial superiority, exploiting and expropriating colonies of their land and resources. They came under the false pretense of a civilizing mission to convert the heathens and brutes. They feel it was the White man’s burden as penned by Rudyard Kipling(1899). It was all a smoke screen; it was about might is right and white. It was about economics, not a civilizing mission. Colonialists employed their superior military power, ie, guns, etc. to overpower weaker, less powerful indigenous populations, slaughtering they, their culture, history,customs,heritage, lives and livelihoods, etc. The colonialists had/have unequal power to exploit the weaker colonies. You got the message, the attitude, the behavior., etc. British statesman Lord Palmerston told the lie, saying airily, that the plan l, the blessings, was, ‘ not to enslave , but to set free.’ What a big, fat lie.
Concur, with Bush Professor, that in lieu of the Governor’s proposal for a War Memorial, instead a Slavery/Slave Memorial should be invested in and constructed. Slavery was the greatest crime against humanity and the crime was committed by Whites. So it is clear why they would want to bury it at 12’. The Slave Memorial should be in the Heroes and Foreparents Park. Convert the QE II Park to perhaps the Heroes and Foreparents Park. Just an idea and may not be the ideal location. Let’s get the Slave Memorial started we don’t to wait for the colonialists approval. We can continue to celebrate Armistice Day. Curious, how many Virgin Islanders are serving in the UK arm forces compared to the number serving in the US’
Was not an assigned role for blacks the time and shot at and shit down Japanese aircraft. Hodge is deserving of the Victory cross for his bravery, rising and seizing the opportunity and performing well, though he got it much to the chagrin of many, for blacks are deserving of nothing of value but responsible for everything bad.
What was his defence? "I can mistreat my slave just as I can mistreat my dog if I want to." The court ruled, no, you hang, Hodge. And he did, in Road Town. All around the British Empire slave owners suddenly felt deeply vulnerable.
Put up a monument to Prosper, a symbol of all those stolen from Africa, a symbol of humanity and hope eternal!
The British Empire, the largest empire in history, covering some 25% of the globe, thrusting England, a small island, into a powerful international force, power. This power was acquired through conquest, colonization and the exploitation and expropriation of slave labour. Today, the power of the Empire has been depleted, ie, Britannia no longer rule the waves and the sun sets over the Commonwealth. Nonetheless, the once prestigious position is being tried to be relived through Global Britain, Commonwealth of nations (the Commonwealth is being treated as if owned and controlled by the Crown), and hold on Overseas Territories( OT). The OTs are the last remaining remnants of the once huge and powerful British Empire. And the UK is treating them with control and dependency as it trested colonies under slavery and the old dated colonialism. It gives them theoretically some level of self- governance on the one hand. But on the other hand, it maintains control by allowing them to have heavily dependency model constitutions. The Governor, the UK- appointed Governor (subjects have no say in whom is deployed to represent them as government. In reality, the term Virgin Islands Governor is a misnomer), is the de facto head of state, a whale in a small pond(s), with tremendous veto power of local government actions which are headed by blacks , minorities, etc, ie, reserved powers, power of assent, direct control over critical functions, ie, police, security, civil services, judiciary, jail, etc all of which are funded by local taxpayers. The BVI have been off grant-in-aid since 1979 under the Dr. Willard Wheatley Administration( Dr Willard Wheatley is the grandfather of current Premier Dr, Natalio Wheatley) yet the UK controls the VI financial expenditures.
Furthermore, the VI is supposedly self-governing but devolved processes/ functions can be easily reversed as simple as saying 1-2-3., ie the constitution. In fact the VI constitution has been suspended by an order in council but is being held in abeyance, hanging over the head of the VI and its people like the Sword of Damocles. The suspending of the constitution was driven and influenced by the recommendations of a sole commissioner of a commission of inquiry. The CoI was controversial and commissioned by a former Governor Augustus Jaspert as he was leaving early from tour in the territory. Many are of the view that the CoI commissioner Sir Gary Hickingbottom was selectively handpicked and the findings were preplanned. There were some 46 recommendations which are being rushed to be implemented without being properly vetted as being in the best interest of the VI and its people and just checking a block on a check list just because a Colonialist say so. This is the state of things in the VI in the 21st Century. Governor John Rankin is on his way out in a few days. What gifts await ps the BVI before he departs and what will change if anything with his relief? Time will tell.