BVI News

Calls made in HOA for park, permanent public holiday, and documentary project of RT O’Neal

Implementing a permanent public holiday and renaming parks in honour of former Premier Ralph T O’Neal have been listed among the things some sitting legislators want to see implemented for the late political giant.

Opposition legislator and former member of previous O’Neal administrations, Julian Fraser has said he personally believes government should initiate a project that documents the many accomplishments of the late former Premier.

He said this would be preserved as an important piece of the British Virgin Islands history.

The Opposition legislator made the call during a special sitting of the House of Assembly which was organised to pay tribute to the late O’Neal.

Fraser said: “We have to make sure that we maintain our history, and history can’t be maintained unless it’s documented. I know that Mr O’Neal was a walking encyclopedia. I don’t know if this has been chronically documented. The things that he has done. It is not too late.”

“He wasn’t living alone nor was he living in isolation, so the lot of people who remembers the things that he did, we owe to this country to make sure it is documented. That should be a government project,” Fraser further stated.

More should be done

The senior legislator said he believes that more should be done for O’Neal who has contributed 40 years in politic service and achieved so many milestone accomplishments for the territory.

“That is something that we have to cherish. You can’t just have a [special] public holiday, a state funeral and then let it go like that. We can’t afford to do that,” Fraser added.

Public Holiday and Renaming of Park to be pushed for

Meanwhile, Deputy Premier and Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley said he will be advocating for a more permanent Ralph T O’Neal public holiday, along with the naming of a park in Virgin Gorda.

“I will be one for sure advocating for a day to his memory. His memory, his life, his legacy, should never be forgotten,” Wheatley stated.

“I want to see this move in the future to where we name our things after our people. As a matter of fact, I’m hoping that next year, I’ll have the first Ralph O’Neal Memorial Park in Virgin Gorda in the Ninth District and hopefully there will be more parks going forward where we must celebrate our heroes,” Wheatley added.

Some of the contributions of Ralph T O’Neal

During the aforesaid session in the House, some of the contributions O’Neal made to the BVI were named.

These include advocating for the Speech from the Throne to be established, move Cabinet from the Governor’s Office to the Premier’s Office, Seconded the motion as an Opposition member to have the Social Security department established in the territory and expanded the government scholarship field to cover more subject areas.

The former Premier was also responsible for the establishment of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Primary and Secondary divisions, the Cruise Ship Dock, and the development of the North Sound Road on Virgin Gorda. 

It is further said that he was the one who started the Anegada road project as well as spearheading the initiative to upgrade the terminals at the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport.

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11 Comments

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  1. TruDat! says:

    All in favor of a permanent public holiday BUT please don’t make it in December – choose a month when we don’t already have 3 holidays. Choose one of those months in the middle of a long stretch of months with no public holiday. Choose something that makes sense and truly benefits the people.

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  2. Eagle eye says:

    If anybbody knows why the funeral will be close casket then you wouldn’t be interested in celebrating if you are trying to be straight.

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  3. Tru Dat! says:

    BVI Public Holidays (currently)
    1 in January
    2 in March
    2 in April
    2 in June
    1 in July
    3 in August
    1 in October
    2 in December
    The only logical candidates for an RT O’Neal day are February, May, September or November. Any other time would just be silly.

  4. Devon says:

    Good idea to have a memorial day in his honour… just make sure it’s always on a Saturday.. too many public holidays here.. or combine it with another public holiday.

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  5. strupes says:

    WE NEED A HEROES DAY INSTEAD BECAUSE IT WONT HAVE ENOUGH DAYS FOR ALL THE BVI HEROES

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  6. strupes says:

    LETS USE 1 DAY FOR ALL BVI HEROES AND CALL IT “HEROES DAY”

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  7. August says:

    Fit it in one of the public holidays for emancipation

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  8. my 2 cents says:

    I agree. Mr. O’Neal was indeed a walking encyclopedia. One of those occasions where I must say that I agree with Hon. Frazer. We must document this whilst those that were around Mr. O’Neal are living and still remember the details. Let’s honor him with the building of a park on Virgin Gorda, perhaps a Road. In terms of a holiday, the families of the late greats would have to come to terms with the reality that each should be honored but we cannot honor each with their own holiday. it would be impractical. A National Heroes Day would make more sense. I would suggest November, but only if one of the 14 existing holidays are eliminated.

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  9. rastarite says:

    Too many holidays already. Employers have to pay enough for employees holidays and the business sector … banks, govt offices etc can’t keep up as it is. Name a street or building after him – enough is enough!

  10. Realist says:

    I agree Hon O’Neal was a great businessman , politician, and leader of the BVI but we are going to have more great bv islanders in the future. The only sensible solution is to have a hero’s day when Stoutt, Faulkner , DeCastro , Ras Uhura, O’Neal and others can all be celebrated. A museum could be built , kind of a hall of fame kind of place , where each could have their own section and the school kids and visitors could go and see our history .
    To keep adding public holidays is great for employees but is a killer for business owners who have to find the extra money to operate . Easy thing is to change Stoutt’s day to Heroes Day.

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