Premier calls for reflection as VI marks 3rd Heroes & Foreparents Day

October 16th, 2023 | Tags: Natalio D. Wheatley Heroes & Foreparents Day holiday BVI Tortola

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Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley has called on those in the VI to reflect on the achievements of those that have gone before, as the VI marks its 3rd annual Heroes and Foreparents Day. Photo: VINO/File

Ahead of today’s holiday, the Premier said Heroes and Foreparents Day will be significant in recognizing the outstanding contributions of Virgin Islanders, in shaping their unique history and identity. Photo: Facebook/File

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has called on those in the VI to reflect on the achievements of those that have gone before, as the VI marks its 3rd annual Heroes and Foreparents Day.

“As we observe Heroes and Foreparents Day, let us reflect on the sacrifices and patriotic acts of service undertaken by those who have gone before, and have paved the way to increased opportunities, greater success, and an enhanced measure of freedom."

For the 2023 holiday, stalwart educators are also being celebrated in commemoration of 80 years of secondary education in the Virgin Islands.

“This year we have taken the additional step of celebrating our educators, who are 80 years and older, as we recognize the 80th anniversary of the introduction of secondary education and the 55th anniversary of comprehensive education.”

Educators celebrated

He added, “I say hearty congratulations to all honourees and their families. May their legacy endure for generations to come.”

Premier Wheatley also explained that the House of Assembly has taken a courageous and unprecedented step towards acknowledging, institutionalizing, and declaring national heroes.

Heroes and Forefather's Day was celebrated for the first time on October 18, 2021, replacing St. Ursula’s Day, and has subsequently been observed every third Monday of October.

This initiative is in alignment with the Government and people of the Virgin Islands’ overall objective to advance and promote its history and heritage, while safeguarding the national development of the Territory.

26 Responses to “Premier calls for reflection as VI marks 3rd Heroes & Foreparents Day”

Youth (16/10/2023, 11:14) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
I am glad we are celebrating our heroes. This is a good initiative.
- herbs power (16/10/2023, 15:13) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
  thought the heading had read, premier calls for re-election. my eyes was so hoping to see that.
  - @ herbs power (16/10/2023, 17:22) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    The hungry jealous folks just need to keep nibbling off there wishful thinking the vip will be good now and next election
  - @herbs power (16/10/2023, 20:03) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    We certainly wouldn't vote for you !!
facts (16/10/2023, 11:14) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
The BVI people and leaders have done well over the years to develop the BVI so we will not be fooled by those who all of a sudden trying to use wicked tactics to make us think otherwise.
Preserve Democracy: Preserve our heritage (16/10/2023, 11:18) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
Elections in the BVI allows for democracy where the people's voices through their votes are heard. They vote who they want to represent their affairs. If these people are not working in their best interest then the people have the power to vote them out in the next general elections and vote in new leaders. Neither the UK nor their Governor has ever ran for office in the BVI and asked the people to select them to run their affairs. So no order in council should give such powers to non-elected people to run the affairs of the BVI people or any other country. It is not right. It does not represent good governance nor democracy. It is high handed and a modern day slavery whip, law, and action. We must educate our people of these facts and we must stick together to preserve not just our democracy but to preserve democracy itself and our legacy as a people. Such anti democratic actions should be banned worldwide as these actions are wrong no matter the reason.
History (16/10/2023, 11:21) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
The COI Act was written in 1880 which was only 46 years after slavery was abolished in the BVI. It was written by the UK officials of the day not for fairness but to keep all descendants of slaves n check with the wishes of the UK. A slavery based act is governing a free people in the 21st century. This needs to be challenged as it is a slap in the face of democracy and not relevant in today's world. It is an attempt to wipe out BVI history and achievements by trying to make everything look wrong, bad and corrupt & they as clean and our saviors. This is wrong. BVI has been its own savior then and now.
PT09 (16/10/2023, 11:27) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
Show pictures of the real heroes.
Show pictures (16/10/2023, 11:52) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
Yes.. So we have vivid images
Tell the thing (16/10/2023, 12:19) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
We have some modern day heroes
… (16/10/2023, 12:21) Like (12) Dislike (7) Reply
This governor and Mr hickenbittom knows the bvi is deserving of a public apology for the many lies told on the country
- @ ... (16/10/2023, 13:51) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
  I could like your post a million times. Everyone agrees improvements are needed and strengthening of accountability is necessary. But the BVI is no worse than any other country including the UK. The COI was racially bias and was NOT independent of the Governor involvement and interference when he is the one who called it. He is the one who wrote the terms of reference. He is the one hand picked the sole commissioner for the COI only form the UK without transparency or a balance of others selected from the UN, OECS, & CARICOM.. He is the one who furnished him with information and put him in a one track direction. He was the one who got his fellow UK staff colleagues from their same UK Office HE OPERATES out of to be the staff of the UK Commissioner to influence the report. If an elected official in BVI did this then most of the naysayers would be hitting the roof. The territory has been set up through abuse of power so they can try to justify their take over plan. We must rise up and fight this modernized colonial plot and strategy. It is no surprise of the findings especially where the Governors have never done any wrong for 40yrs. You are correct they owe us an apology. Let us seek such through the courts
- @… (16/10/2023, 14:58) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
  If the politicians start apologizing in detail your jaw going drop all the way off. Anyways yayyy heroes
BVI love (16/10/2023, 12:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
And just an aside - THE other government members SHOULD BE ALL OVER THIS as a step in the right direction - MAKE SOME NOISE!
Jason (16/10/2023, 13:03) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
Why hasn’t Mr. Randolph Pickering of Main Street been inducted on this list of national heroes? He has done soo much to develop spiritual freedom in the territory.
Manjack (16/10/2023, 13:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
It is commendable that the government and people of the VI are celebrating the struggles, sacrifices of its heroes and heroines, and foreparents, and their patriotic acts of fighting and pushing back against the atrocities, genocide, extractive, exploitative, and expropriated acts of the slavery and colonialism institutions. However, we must do much more than just remember, reflect, and reminisce about the sacrifices and patriotic actions of our heroes, heroines, and forebears. Their courageous, valiant, exemplary, unselfish, priceless,,invaluable, etc actions in pursuing freedom, liberties, equality, democracy ,etc., was not a One and Done play. it was not a one scene , one act play. They started the race and the work is unfinished. Consequently, it is current generations and generations yet unborn moral obligation to continue the race, the journey. It is a dynamic, not a static race. We have gotten complacent, assuming that the race, the journey, has been completed. That is a bad and costly assumption, for the race is still in progress. Additionally, the disunity among the VI people is posing serious challenges to effectively running the race, positioning the colonialists with an advantage of keeping us colonized. The way forward for the BVI and its people, is to unite as a group, not divide and scatter; develop an action plan, set a target and destination, set strategies and tactics for hitting the target, moving towards the destination. A house divided cannot stand; it will under its own weight. Happy heroes/heroines and foreparents day!!!!
My take as a youth (16/10/2023, 13:41) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
Congratulations & I do agree improvements need to be made in our territory (like all countries) but it does not warrant the actions of the UK through their Governor as they have just as much blame to take over the years as local government but there are no laws to hold the UK accountable and this is not right. Both sides should have legal powers to hold each other accountable and not just an unelected Governor and people millions of miles in England. What is worse is the UK have found nothing good done in BVI by its people and leaders over the last 40yrs. As a young person this concerns me as I feel as if my rights are being violated and I have no recourse. I am also concern the subliminal message the UK is saying which is only they have integrity. This is oppressive in thoughts and nature. I am also concern that the UK is saying in 40 yrs or more the BVI has done nothing correct and their Governors have done nothing wrong. This is impossible and disrespectful.
ausar (16/10/2023, 15:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
I would like to know the NAMES of these national heroes!

Is there some publication for purchase where we can learn of these national heroes?

To learn of a feeble lot, through print, and sound mediums, is not enough. And, too often, there's a lot of biasness in
the discussion of these heroes!

We need publications to fully understand the gravitas of such historical importance.

Forward ever, with the publications, Premier!

FORWARD EVER!!!
BOI @ man jack az (16/10/2023, 15:32) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
you can write and blogg as much as you want we have heard all your broken down racist records on racism / we have a country thats needs serious attention and those who have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to respect themselves , the people and their country and do the right thing , so they need to focus on that , not your gabbage , if you have something positive to contribute that can help them , ( as you see they need help ) please feel welcome to share it with our leaders , as
long as it is in the best interests of of Everyone / otherwise - hush yo asz
- To: BOI @ man jack az (16/10/2023, 18:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
  Your hatred and ignorance for your own is real. Go live somewhere else and see if you think they have life any better even in UK after covid. BVI have a lot a way to go but they are no worse than anywhere else and no one else. Much has been accomplished. The racism by the UK now and in the past is real and cannot be overlooked by you nor them. It is wrong and should never be condoned.
- @BOI @ Man Jac Az (16/10/2023, 21:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
  @@ BOI @ BOI Man Jack Az , pretending that the atrocities, genocide, rape, brutality, violence, exploitation, expropriation, dehumanization, etc of slavery and colonialism institutions don’t exist does not mean they that they didn’t or still happening happenings. Trying to wish them away is also futile, for the genie is out of the bottle and therefore can’t be hidden. Let’s face the truth and the truth will set us free . The sambo -like behavior cannot change the truth about history. Pretending that the truth is not the truth does not change the truth. Truth is truth, though some want to create alternative facts.
Eagle and Buffalo (16/10/2023, 15:42) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
Today, the VI is celebrating National Heroes and Foreparents Day. Importantly, today the territory has 10 new national heroes. We have heard from Dr. Hon Premier Natalio Wheatley but we have yet to hear (perhaps he did and I missed it) from John Rankin, CMG, Governor of the Virgin Islands. Though he is UK-appointed and the VI people had no say in his appointment, he is supposed to represent the interest of the VI people. Nevertheless, his actions have demonstrated that he is here to represent the crown, not necessarily the people of VI. Where a cow is tied, it feeds. The VI people needs an active say in whom is deployed as Governor. Hell, VI taxpayers foot the bill for Governor’s tenure in the VI, paying for housing, food, utilities,domestic help, travel, transportation, entertainment, etc. Another blogger used the term crusading, ie, the VI people is footing the bill to be ruled. I subscribe to that description. Is our not hearing from the Governor as yet because this holiday and national heroes is not painting the UK in a positive light—-Slavery and Colonialism. Governor should weigh in soon or may be not.

[Let us lead as eagles lead, not careen off the cliff as buffaloes does].
@ Manjack (16/10/2023, 16:09) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
WITH ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE YOU POSSESS WHY DIDN'T YOU SHARE IT WITH THE COACH ~ AND GUIDE HIM IN THE RIGHT PATH AND HE WON'T HAVE BEEN IN THiS PREDICAMENT AND YOU WOULD NOT OF HAVE TO BE SINGING * FREE THE DREW * TALK THAT
- To @ Manjack (16/10/2023, 18:08) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
  Don't worry about him because he fought against the colonial masters to block their slavery plan so they organized to try to eliminate him at all cost and try to make their hands look clean. Time is the best healer for this one. For now the rest of us must keep up the fight.
- @@ Manjack (16/10/2023, 21:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
  @@Msnjack, have you read anything that I have written that says “ free the Drew?”
Outsider (17/10/2023, 04:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
Heroes, Heroines & Foreparents Day

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Premier calls for reflection as VI marks 3rd Heroes & Foreparents Day

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