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'Just because we in 2024 doesn't mean freedom can't be taken away'- Premier

- reminds territory freedom cannot be taken for granted
Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has called on all in the territory to come out and celebrate VI’s upcoming 70th emancipation celebrations. Photo: VINO/File
The Premier made the statement on the sidelines of an event on April 26, 2024, to name the winner of this year’s slogan which would be under the theme, 'Celebrate our freedom and Live in Unity, As BVI Festival turns 70!' Photo: VINO/File
The Premier made the statement on the sidelines of an event on April 26, 2024, to name the winner of this year’s slogan which would be under the theme, 'Celebrate our freedom and Live in Unity, As BVI Festival turns 70!' Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has called on all in the territory to be a part of the upcoming 70th emancipation celebrations in the [British] Virgin Islands (VI).

The Premier made the statement on the sidelines of this year’s slogan unveiling for the 70th Emancipation Festival. The unveiling occurred at Road Town Market Square on April 26, 2024.

This year's slogan is “Celebrate our freedom and Live in Unity, As BVI Festival turns 70!”

Premier Wheatley, speaking to the media, said: “My main message is let's celebrate our freedom. It is the 70th of these types of celebrations, but it's 190 years since our emancipation and in Long Look, Nottingham Estate, we [are] getting close to 250 years, which will be in 2026.

“So I am high off the idea that our ancestors fought for us not to be in slavery anymore and I'm going to celebrate my ancestors and celebrate the fact that we are indeed free and I'm going to celebrate with all my heart and all my mind."

All called to celebrate 

The Premier called on everyone in the VI  to celebrate, since freedom cannot be taken for granted.

“We have to continue to fight for our freedom. Just because we are in 2024 doesn't mean that our freedom can't be taken away,” he added.

Dr Wheatley said when you look at the wars across the globe, and examine global events, different things are happening.

“So we are free, we don't have bombs raining down, we don't have persons trying to put us to work for no money or anything like that.”

The Premier added, “We have the opportunity to make our lives the best that they can be and let's join together as a community and work to make the BVI the best place it can be, and let's celebrate our freedom."

19 Responses to “'Just because we in 2024 doesn't mean freedom can't be taken away'- Premier ”

  • resident (29/04/2024, 12:27) Like (22) Dislike (4) Reply
    do what you promised an nobody will take away our freedom, complete the coi reforms
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (29/04/2024, 12:29) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    that is the main idea. fight for freedom. equal rights and justice for all mankind. end police brutality and human rights abuse around the world. be a human rights activist.
  • jack (29/04/2024, 13:21) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    He is correct
  • Huh? (29/04/2024, 13:26) Like (35) Dislike (3) Reply
    You mean your freedom? yall government freedom? close family and friends freedom who benefit from yall corruption!

    #CovidGrants

    #GREEDYBILL

    #SSB
    • @ Huh? (29/04/2024, 18:53) Like (0) Dislike (10) Reply
      Jump hight jumb low I had to stop and think and still conclude the VIP IS STILL THE BEST HOPE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI
  • Citizen (29/04/2024, 14:32) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    So why are we celebrating 70 years of emancipation? Who fooling who.
    • Stealth (29/04/2024, 16:40) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      @Citizen, what are we celebrating? Is 70 years of festival celebrating freedom from enslavement? Actually, forebears were freed from enslavement on 01 August 1834, 190 years. Anyway, we need to highlight our forebears who were freed from enslavement form the Nottinghingham Estate Plantation in Long Look, Tortola, BVI, in 1776. This event need to be taken from under the bushel and let the light shine on it..Long Lookers have a history to celebrate. People like Cristopher Fleming who served time in Antigua for fake insurrection charges or something along that line for protesting at Mount Olympus ( Commissioner Cameron).
  • Real (29/04/2024, 15:38) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    HE REALLY JUST SAY THAT THIS DUDE DONE SELL THE COUNTRY OUT TO THE UNITED NATIONS ONLY TIME WILL TELL
  • Mr. Premier.. (29/04/2024, 15:46) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am telling you as a friend. You have no control over the affairs of this country. Stop by immigration to get some info and as usual they brushing you off with the usual. "We will call you". I am still waiting.
  • What Freedom? (29/04/2024, 15:55) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Section 2 of the COI Act,1880 of Cap 237, did not make provision for Sir Gary Hickinbottom to recommend to the Governor,to investigate the citizens,but here you are accepting this nonsense about coi implementation my a$$$!!??
  • Mind Games (29/04/2024, 19:09) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    As we continue to perpetuate the cycle of emancipation celebrations the aspiration for political independence is relegated to the back burner. We hold this annual celebration that our ancestors would be shocked and totally ashamed of to celebrate their achievements but what have you done for me lately where are your contributions, would your various fruitless trips around the world qualify for national celebrations in the future. It's annoying to have to listen to all this silly rubbish from a handful of con men whose only aim is to secure a government pension while they play mind games to hide the fact that they have done nothing and are not committed to doing anything except enjoying themselves on the taxpayers dime.
  • my2cents (29/04/2024, 19:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The world keeps moving, and it doesn't move backwards or downwards, it moves upward. You can't leave the people behind as the world moves on because the gap between the haves and the have-nots gets wider. We have to close that gap.
    • Real (30/04/2024, 09:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      being apart of the rest of the world is not always a good thing
      • Be real, "Real"... (30/04/2024, 13:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Unless you intend for the Virgin Islands to secede from planet Earth, FACTS dictate that we are indeed part of the rest of the world. No amount of isolationism and ignoring global geopolitics and sticking heads in the sand up Long Bay will ever change that.
  • GateKeeper (30/04/2024, 12:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Are the (British) Virgin Islands and Virgin Islanders truly free of the unilateral control of the UK and Mount Olympus? Yes, the VI is celebrating 190 years of its forebears being free/relaxing of physical slavery, along with also celebrating 175 years of festival in recognition of our forebears relaxing freedom. Though the VI people were physically free, they are not totally economically, socially, and politically free. The unilateral power of the UK-appointed governor looms largely over the VI and its people like the Sword of Damocles. The VI people are still conflicted on the divide and rule effort and its impact on their lives. Over 50% of population/residents( over 60% of population are not citizens) may show allegiance to the institution of colonialism vice self-determination. There is a tug-of-war push and pull among generations of Virgin Islanders. The older generations, ie, Silent, Boomers, and Gen X seem wedded to the status quo, ie, Colonialists/colonialism; whereas, millennials, GenZ and younger generations appear to aspire for fuller participation in the social order, civic engagement, economic diversification, positive constitutional changes and ease in making constitutional changes through the vote.. Freedom is not free and takes cooperation, collaboration, collective group effort, struggles, etc. Those who are not keen on struggles are conversely also not keen on progress. Disunity is hurting VI progress,,ie, further self-determination. Disunity empowers those with unilateral power.
  • Boomer (30/04/2024, 13:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I’m a Boomer and I’m not weded to the views, behaviours, actions, etc of the Colonialists. Nonetheless, the blogger is deep, delving way below tge surface,mgouching a nerve at least it should about our freedom and what it means.
  • Big Richard (30/04/2024, 16:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Words of a narcissistic sociopath
  • Really? (30/04/2024, 17:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wait you still live here????
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (11/06/2024, 10:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    true


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