Members of the BVI Delegation were greeted by cultural dancers and friendly embraces as they attended the 37th annual British Virgin Islands/United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day celebration hosted by the United States Virgin Islands in St. Thomas.
Under the theme, `Celebrating our Future Generation´, the British Virgin Islands delegation witnessed a demonstration of the skills, capabilities and talents of the young people at the October 2nd celebration.
His Excellency Governor Boyd McCleary, CMG, CVO thanked the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) delegation for their warm welcome in particular USVI Governor Honourable John P. de Jongh, Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Gregory Francis.
"We are very pleased to be here. We are happy to celebrate our future generations. We look forward to the events for the day and seeing some of the culture and traditions here in the USVI," Governor McCleary stated at the opening ceremony.
United States Virgin Islands Governor Honourable John P. de Jongh, Jr. said, "Today more than anything is a friendship between our two countries, families, friends and governments."
Premier O´Neal said the celebrations get better each year. "Without a doubt, friendship day gives us a chance to renew old acquaintances, to discuss old and new times and to recall good and bad times. Friendship day allows us to reflect on how we have arrived or survived and flourished as a people despite the many challenges we have conquered in the past and those which will surely confront us in the future."
Premier O´Neal added, "When we think of common family names such as Turnbull, Dawson, Maduro, Lettsome, Smith, Hodge, Penn, O´Neal, Vanterpool and many others, we cannot deny the connection of culture and history which truly defines us as a people. In that sense, there is no doubt that the people of the Virgin Islands are indeed one people."
As a special feature, Premier O´Neal recognised and made a presentation to Pastor Algernon Blyden, one of eight centenarians born in the British Virgin Islands who is still alive and currently resides in the St. Thomas, USVI.
Saturday´s ceremony also included presentations from youth groups including the Gladys Abraham Cultural Choir, the Lockhart Quadrille Dancers, the JROTC Drill Teams, the Love City Leapers and the St. Thomas Majorettes.
At the luncheon which followed at the St. Peter´s Greathouse and Botanical Gardens, a number of toasts were made to the President of the United States, Barack Obama, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the senators of the USVI Legislature, the members of the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands and the Governments and people of both sets of Virgin Islands. The event culminated with an exchange of gifts between senior Government officials.Premier O´Neal´s gift to Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. was a jagged art piece designed and painted by five graduates of the Elmore Stoutt High School Class of 2010, namely, twins Trevor and Travis Burrell, Jeremy Pitt, Kia Foreman and Trisha Todman. Governor de Jongh gladly accepted the piece and stated that it will be on prominent display in the USVI Government House on St. Thomas.
Friendship Day began in 1972 as an annual celebration to recognize and strengthen the traditional close ties between the two groups of Virgin Islands. The celebrations are alternated yearly between the two territories. Under the theme, "Celebrating our Future Generation" the 2010 BVI/USVI Friendship Day celebration was the first time young people formed part of the official delegations for both Territories.