PHOTOS: Majority legislators, residents boycott Queen’s parade
Scene from the Queen’s Birthday Parade held on June 9 at the AO Shirley Recreation Grounds in Road Town. (Photos by Esther Durand/BVI News)
The vast majority of legislators in the British Virgin Islands were a no-show at the official parade to mark the Queen’s birthday celebrations at the weekend.
Besides Premier Dr D Orlando Smith and Health Minister Ronnie Skelton who were absent because they are on official business in Asia, Acting Premier Dr Kedrick Pickering, Education Minister Myron Walwyn, and Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie were the only legislators present at the function held at the AO Shirley Recreation Grounds in Road Town.
The remaining eight legislators Mark Vanterpool, Archibald Christian, Marlon Penn, Delores Christopher, Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull, Hubert O’Neal, Alvera Maduro Caines, and Opposition member Julian Fraser were absent.
Majority of the territory seems to have followed the absentee legislators’ lead, as the parade was noticeably smaller than previous years.
The glaring absenteeism comes amid the ‘public registers’ controversy between the BVI and the United Kingdom. The UK is being accused of infringing on the territory’s constitutional rights — a so-called offence that is not sitting well with several locals.
Despite the ongoing controversy between the motherland and the territory, Governor Augustus Jaspert said, in keeping with tradition, Her Majesty will still be gifted with a pound of salt mined from the BVI’s Salt Island.
Fewer schools marched
Meanwhile, schools that participated in this year’s parade include St Georges Secondary and Elmore Stoutt High School. They were the only two secondary educational facilities that participated.
The Agape Total Life Academy, Alexandrina Maduro, Francis Lettsome, Isabella Morris, Leonora Delville and the Ebenezer Thomas were the participatory schools in the primary division.
In addition to the aforementioned schools, paramilitary groups such as officers from Her Majesty’s Prison, Fire and Rescue Services, Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and the Virgin Islands Cadette Corps took part.
The Boys Brigade, BVI Girl Guides, BVI Red Cross, Girls Brigade, and Mentoring Anointed Leaders Everywhere (MALE) also participated.
Honorees
As customary, several officers were bestowed with medals for long service and good conduct in the RVIPF. One prison officer was recognised during the event.
Below is a breakdown of the awards for years of service in the RVIPF. Persons were awarded in 18, 25, and 30-year categories.
18 years
Constables: Daniel Ceasor, Bruce Huggins, Otis Martin and Llewellyn Olliviere.
Sergeants: Kevin Joseph and Vernon Larocque.
25 years
Constables: Clyde Farrington, Rudolph David, Elvis Richards, Cyril Thomas, Job Trumpet and O’Carol Williams-Olliviere.
Sergeants: Claude Rhymer, Steve George (Ag) and George James.
Inspectors: John Rhymer, Selwyn Rock and Bill Johnney (Chief).
30 years
Sergeants: Kenneth Arthur and Rawle Gibbons.
Inspector Ivor Fraser and Superintendent Claudius Charles.
Her Majesty’s Prison
Sergeant Seymour Phillip was awarded for his 25 year-milestone in the prison service.
Governor and police commissioner
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for us outsiders- what are they infringing on? what rights?
All you need to stop this outsider nonsense.
This title is misleading, the general public generally hasn’t attended the parade in years.
It goes to show how Brain Wash the Government has the People. People need a clear understanding of what the UK Government is asking! People need to wise up and start thinking for themselves. Stop being the laughing stock of the present Government. As far as I am concerned…they All need to go.
Hardly anyone attends these parades. No different now than years past. Besides, people are trying trying to put their lives back together following last year hurricanes.
speaking, there should not even be a parade (waste of tax payers money) for its stated occasion..
Such continue to insult the intelligence of a people who know better.
The turnout was basically the same as previous years, except for 90th year celebration. We need to stop telling lies in this place.
Exactly — People rarely attend this parade. Why ya’ll don’t stop trying to make it look like its because of the public register. Smh.. Very misleading article
Are we that blind? And Oblivious? What I see is the beginning of a down fall of a nation. I’m sure we watch the news, there are countries out there that are like patient predators, that lurks in the night waiting for unsecured territories. America being the biggest and meanest and always get anyone who doesn’t follow their lead or does anything outside of what they want. The only reason the BVI was and is left alone and not interfered with is because we are govern by the Brits and not just out here left alone for the wolves. We would all be wise to stay put, come to some sort of agreement but standing alone, we are setting up ourselves for capture and on the path of to become just like every other Caribbean nation where tourism is a thing but the people living there are hungry and broke. So, we don’t comply with the UK’s request and we decide to go independent – what I see is the US enforcing laws to shut down the entire BVI, shutting down anyone trading with us, shutting down anyone doing business with us and then what?? Who’s coming to our rescue? Y’all better start growing corn and rice cause that will be our fate if we decided to continue down the path. We don’t even have a defense system to fight off ANYONE that comes to our shores. Don’t be tunnel vision.
My invitation said lounge suit. Lounge suit in the early afternoon? In Tortola? In June? I didn’t go.
Have a big dance or something in the evening instead.