RVIPF announce upcoming road closures across territory

Several road closures will be in effect across the territory on Sunday, November 24, to accommodate key events, including the ceremonial march commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Great March of 1949.

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) announced that Main Street in Road Town, Tortola, will be temporarily closed from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday, November 24. The closure will cover the area from St. George’s Anglican Church to the entrance of Parker Road.

The RVIPF is also advising the public not to park on Main Street between 11am and the conclusion of the Great March to ensure the smooth flow of the event and prevent traffic disruptions.

In addition, a portion of Crabbe Hill Road in Virgin Gorda will be closed from 4pm to 10pm to facilitate the St. Mary Episcopal Church’s Annual Tree Lighting on the same day.

On Anegada, the stretch of road from the Roundabout to the Potters will be closed on Saturday, November 30, and Sunday, December 1, between 8am and 10pm to accommodate the Anegada Lobster Fest, a highlight of Culture and Tourism Month.

The ceremonial reenactment of the Great March of 1949 will begin at 3pm at the Bandstand in Road Town, with participants marching to the Sir Olva Georges Plaza. The event will culminate in a celebratory concert.

The original Great March, which took place on Thursday, November 24, 1949, was led by Theodolph Faulkner, Isaac “Glanny” Fonseca, and Carlton de Castro. It marked a historic demonstration for improved quality of life for Virgin Islanders, with approximately 1,500 individuals marching through Road Town to the Commissioner’s Office (now the Governor’s Office) in peaceful protest.

Organizers are expecting around 1,500 participants for this year’s reenactment march, which is being held under the theme, “A March, A Movement, A Milestone.”