Sir Lindsay H. Hoyle and Ms Tracy Bradshaw pose for a photo as the UK Parliament celebrates Virgin Islands Day by hoisting the VI Flag. Photo: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor (Attribution 3.0 Unported [CC BY 3])

Speaker of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly Honourable Julian Willock has said the celebrating of Virgin Islands Day by the UK Parliament is a step in the right direction as efforts are made to continue to foster relationships between the House of Assembly and the UK House of Commons. Photo: GIS

In April of 2021, the Speaker of the UK House of Commons Sir Lindsay H. Hoyle expressed an interest in fostering and developing relationships with all Overseas Territories and Representatives, and as a result, three national holidays, including Virgin Islands Day were celebrated by the UK Parliament.

According to a press release from Government Information Services (GIS), as it was agreed upon, the Speaker of the House of Commons raised the Virgin Islands flag at the main entrance to Parliament in New Palace Yard. The Virgin Islands flag was presented to the Speaker of the House of Commons by the Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands was represented by Acting UK Representative Ms Tracy Bradshaw of the London Office.

'A step in the right direction'- Speaker Willock

Ms Bradshaw said she was "very proud" to see her nation’s flag flying in New Palace Yard to mark ‘Virgin Islands Day’.

Honourable Willock said, “As we continue to foster relationships between the House of Assembly and the UK House of Commons this is a step in the right direction in strengthening our partnership based on mutual respect for each other's institutions.”

"I look forward to taking up the invitation in 2022 to visit London to raise the flag in person," Honourable Willock further stated.

According to Speaker Sir Hoyle’s Twitter page he is quoted as saying, “It was an honour to meet representatives from the Isle of Man, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands and be presented with their flags. They flew outside Parliament yesterday to mark Tynwald Day, Virgin Islands Day and Constitution Day.”

The Virgin Islands flag was raised on the first observation of Virgin Islands Day, recently known as Territory Day.