Five stalwarts being honoured at grand gala -VIP

After nearly two decades without celebrating an anniversary, members of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) will host a grand gala tomorrow evening (March 4) to commemorate 46 years, and to honour five of the party’s stalwarts.

The gala will be held at the Cutlass Towers in Road Town at 7pm.

Recently elected Chairman of the party, Andrew Fahie, has pledged not to let another year pass without recognising each milestone, and each party faithful who is deserving of high recognition.

The VIP, therefore, will kick things off this year by honouring five persons – including two who Fahie said are the last surviving founders of the party.

The two are Naomi Turnbull and Donald Pickering.

“The last time the Virgin Islands Party did any kind of recognition or celebration of its anniversary and any kind of honour was almost 17 years ago… So we decided not to let any of our charter members pass away and we do not make an effort to recognise them. On their shoulders, we stand – all of them,” Fahie told BVI News Online.

“We are also honouring three other past legislators that were members of the VIP during their tenure in politics, which is Honourable Omar Hodge, Honourable Oliver Cills, and the late Honourable Reeial George. Their contributions are one that made these Virgin Islands and the VIP better.”

Fahie, who is also Leader of Opposition, gave credit to members of the VIP fundraising committee for coming up with the idea to make the anniversary gala an annual affair.

He added that the anniversary gala – which is also a fundraising event – is the perfect occasion to honour past and present members of the VIP.

“Legislators that have served under the VIP banner over the years – whether they are still alive or not, we will remember them. This is important because it teaches the younger generation to always pay tribute and honour to those that paved the way for us.”

Fahie, while promising a good time at the gala tomorrow, encouraged members of the public to come out and celebrate with the 46-year-old political organization.