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‘Make Dec 15, 2020 a public holiday for RT O’Neal OBE’- Hon Turnbull

- Other legislators prefer a day to celebrate the Territory’s leaders
Second District Representative and Opposition Member Hon Melvin M. Turnbull, left, has called for the 87th birth anniversary of the late First Premier of the Virgin Islands, Hon Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE to be made a public holiday. Photo: VINO/Facebook
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) instead called for a day when past leaders/legislators would be celebrated. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) instead called for a day when past leaders/legislators would be celebrated. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- As legislators paid tribute to the late first Premier of the Virgin Islands Hon Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE, at a special sitting of the House of Assembly (HoA) on December 3, 2019, Second District Representative and Opposition Member Hon Melvin M. Turnbull called for the 87th birth anniversary of Hon O’Neal to be made a public holiday.

“Mr Speaker I am going to state and this is my position, that on December 15, 2020, that we make a public holiday in honour of this man, which will be his birthday,” Hon Turnbull said.

Anticipating that there would be critics of his suggestion, Hon Turnbull argued that Hon O’Neal’s contribution to the territory can never be equated with losing one day of business.

“It has nothing to do, Mr Speaker, with what people might think. There will be all the arguments about the businesses and what it costs but when you look at the sacrifice that this giant of a man made none should argue. The arguments of what it might cost their business will never amount to the sacrificial gift that this man gave to this country.”

A sometimes ‘thankless job’

Hon Turnbull also noted that there are many other great leaders that the Territory must find a way to acknowledge.

“While we do our duty to the people we must ensure that we use wisdom, that we put the things in place. Though this may be a thankless jobs sometimes we have a responsibility to build this institution and continue to build on the legacy of those brave men and women above our heads,” Hon Turnbull said as he acknowledged the photographs of former legislators on the walls of the HoA.

A day to celebrate past leaders/legislators

Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) instead called for a day when past leaders/legislators would be celebrated. His idea was also supported by Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1).

17 Responses to “‘Make Dec 15, 2020 a public holiday for RT O’Neal OBE’- Hon Turnbull”

  • Agree (04/12/2019, 09:46) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    It will be a Nobel Honor as our first Premier and the longest siting political activist in the Caribbean region. so Premier Fahie and Govern Gasper make it happen. please.
  • The only (04/12/2019, 09:52) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Great leaders of this Country has passed on. They cared for the people and put Country first. Can't say the same for the rest of you INEPT BUNCH.
  • Heroes Day? (04/12/2019, 09:54) Like (46) Dislike (5) Reply
    The holiday that is named for H L Stoutt should be renamed Heroes Day. All National Heroes or those deserving of being so named should be celebrated/ remembered then. It is a rather slippery slope to give a holiday to everyone we think deserving; it only makes for redundancy.
    If we so wish for H L Stoutt to stand out having a day as his own as a national holiday then so be it, but we don't need a day for everyone, regardless of the person's level of contribution to the development and advancement of the Virgin Islands.
  • agreed (04/12/2019, 10:51) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    He deserved it and right here it stopped for now cause the ones that pass not sure about the present dont deserved hoilday when thy pass .just saying
  • Sue (04/12/2019, 11:12) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    I agree
  • Concerned (04/12/2019, 11:44) Like (19) Dislike (13) Reply
    No holiday! We are giving too many days to 'do nothing productive'. Are we forgetting that we are promoting ourselves as a business hub.
    I suggest that he who made the suggestion focus on matters of more importance.
    • agreed (04/12/2019, 14:59) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
      If you name a Holiday after Ralph T. O'Neal, then we need to take away one. Every Premier can't get a holiday, they will all have a contribution to our territory while they served.
  • WHAT!!! (04/12/2019, 12:17) Like (14) Dislike (14) Reply
    Hon. R.T. O’Neal should be honored but there are already 13 or 14 public holidays a year, 12 free paid sick leave a year and 12 paid holiday days a year, no wonder prices are high here when a business has to pay workers for all these days off.
  • Holidays (04/12/2019, 12:21) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    December is a time that has many holidays already, while not negating the importance of duly honoring great persons, the burden on productivity and disruption seems too much.
  • @ Holidays & What (04/12/2019, 13:18) Like (9) Dislike (10) Reply
    This is why it is so important who we elect to be our representative. This boy is clueless. Another holiday for what.
  • idea (04/12/2019, 14:12) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Erect a statue in his honor, maybe once the complex is finished it can be placed on the lawn or at the Center of the walk up?
  • Trev (05/12/2019, 00:30) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    I also agree with changing HLS birthday to National Heroes Day! No more holidays please
    • Concerned (05/12/2019, 09:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      This "country" needs a serious lesson on its history. Electricity enabled you to post; because of roads you can go from East to West; Financial Services keep us financially afloat; Central Complex for government workers; we can do at least two years at HLSCC ... HL Stoutt had vision and tenacity! His interest was the whole Virgin Islands. Don't even think about touching that holiday.
  • Forward ever Backward never (05/12/2019, 06:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We have enough holidays.
  • tola (05/12/2019, 18:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @what I am going to say this in a polite way you sound like an ass.


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