The Virgin Islands (VI) commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Great March of 1949 on Sunday, November 24, 2024, under the theme ‘A March, A Milestone, A Movement’. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said the life Virgin Islanders enjoy today may not have existed if the great march of 1949 had not occurred. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

The re-enactment of the Great March of 1949 saw participation from all factions of Virgin Islands society from political figures to various organisations, churches and school students.

The Rotary clubs in the Virgin Islands participated in the 75th anniversary of the Great March of 1949 on Sunday, November 24, 2024, under the theme ‘A Milestone and a Movement’. Photo: Facebook

A number of schools were represented at the commemoration of the Great March of 1949 on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Photo: Facebook

The Virgin Islands (VI) commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Great March of 1949 on Sunday, November 24, 2024, under the theme ‘A Milestone and a Movement’.

The march saw participation from hundreds of persons representing all factions of VI society, from political figures to various organisations, churches and school students. The march began from the Road Town Bandstand and proceeded to Sir Olva Georges Plaza, along Main Street.

A different reality without Great March- Premier Wheatley

During the ceremony, Premier Wheatley (R7) said, “The Virgin Islands we know and love today, the development we see all around us today, the rights and privileges we enjoy today and the lifestyle and quality of life we have today would perhaps not exist without the movement that drove the Great March in 1949. We would have been living a different reality.”

Movements he said can change the world. They can get laws changed, passed and enforced, and lead to advancing social, political, economic justice for marginalised groups which change culture and how people behave.

Virgin Islands’ historical records, the Premier said, has an “esteemed cadre of leaders” in the persons of Theodolph Faulkner, Isaac “Glanny” Fonseca, and Carlton de Castro, who led the march through the streets of Road Town to the office of the Commissioner to air the grievances of residents.

Great March resulted in return of legislature- Premier Wheatley

“The result of the Great March was the return of the legislature to the Virgin Islands,” Premier Wheatley said.

In order to appreciate the Great March’s impact, one must imagine what life in the Virgin Islands would be like had the legislative function not been restored in 1950 and instead continued to take place on foreign soil without the input of the local population, he continued.

“We must imagine what it would be like to not participate in the democratic process of electing our representatives and our government. Consider what it would be like for other persons knowing nothing about this place or our heritage, customs and traditions, making and imposing decisions on us,” Dr Wheatley stated.