The BVI now has 10 national heroes
The BVI government has bestowed the honour of national hero on 10 Virgin Islanders whose altruistic efforts have contributed significantly to the advancement of the territory.
The nine heroes and one heroine were enshrined in law in the House of Assembly on October 13.
Family members of the more modern heroes as well as other members of the community who were in attendance, heard citations and personal stories which showed the character of the heroes who continue to inspire the BVI today.
Pereen Georges – her testimony helped send slave master Arthur Hodge to the gallows. She has been credited with helping to bring about the end of slavery across the British Empire.
Shelly Martin – Led an uprising in the BVI which fuelled revolution among slaves who were on the brink of freedom.
Augustus McCleverty – remembered as one who became the “voice of the labourers” against the cattle tax of the 1800s – a levy that taxed the poorest.
Obadiah Dawson – Key figure in the protests against the cattle tax in the 1800s
Henry Garnett – Key figure in the protest against the cattle tax in the 1800s
Theodore Faulkner – Could be regarded as the ‘Father of Modern Politics’ in the BVI. Led the March of 1949 in Road Town, which caused the restoration of the Legislative Council.
Isaac ‘Glanny’ Fonseca – Key figure in the March of 1949 which caused the restoration of the Legislative Council.
Carlton DeCastro – Key figure in the March of 1949 which caused the restoration of the Legislative Council.
Noel Lloyd – Led the Positive Action Movement in the 1960s which put Wickham’s Cay and Anegada back in the hands of locals.
H. Lavity Stoutt – First and longest-serving Chief Minister of the BVI. Credited for developing the human resources of the Virgin Islands through education.
In the coming years, residents will have the opportunity to suggest others they think should be named national heroes in the BVI.
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Please add Hon. Andrew Fahie to the list, for fighting off the British colonialist.
for the last one. Need to wait another 25 years.
Wait a few more years….
I have a few suggestions: Louise Scatliffe, Mary Freeman, Lou Harrigan,
please add Mr Peter Haycraft.
What about the great foxy who pu)s people together??
Territorial heroes; surely? We aren’t a nation the last time I looked.
In the same way in that the UK’s National Anthem God Save The King is also the BVI’s National Anthem, it also follows that the national heroes of the UK are by extension the national heroes of the BVI. Secondary to the National Anthem is the Territorial Song and by extension secondary to National Heroes would be Territorial Heroes. Hence the need for us to carve out a true national identity so we can properly define our national heroes. In our current state we are far off from Nationhood.
Linde De Castro was a major figure and national fighter in the struggle for (B)VI sovereignty and its people, (that’s what it was about) against the colonialist imperialist take over as well, and should be recognized as such, accordingly.
Do it right, what ever we do, but especially when we are recognizing the shoulders upon which we stand on today.
How about a “National Disgraces” day – Sindee could start the list!
Clearly a colonialist, local and Black Race hater living among God’s chosen, you are.
Not only Sindee, if you want. to be truthful there are many within this community who will make that list, in cluding Gus, Collins and Rankin, the whole imperialist mechanisms and more.
Don’t think Sindee is deserving. Least we forget history, if the tables turn tomorrow and the UK takes over, as many are lobbying and advocating daily in the West Minister Halls and right here on our shores, all of us will begin to catch real unadulterated hell including Sindee.
So, stop eating the divide and conquer jello. It disfigures the mind and turns it into gelatin. It makes it see white as good and Black as evil, Brown inferior and unpigented superior. Be careful.
Are we a nation? Seat at the UN? An army? No Governor? Able to conduct foreign policy without reference to His Excellency? Ambasadors in foreign capitals? Able to borrow without supervision/approval of the UK? Able to refuse a CoI? Able to assert diplomatic immunity over Mr. Fahie after his unfortunate difficulties?
We do have the Territorial Song and terrible infrastructure notwithstanding the billions paid into the Government since the 1980s.
Saying stuff doesn’t make it real. If it did we could say “we have good roads; we have an effective water and sewerage system; we have a good public education system!” It would be a lot easier; but we don’t have any of those things.
I’m not racist, just observant. Where am I wrong?
In all the manner in which you have expressed things over time, including this one.
For example, can the territory or the Black locals ever get back the billions paid into the Government since the 1980s that you keep harping on day in day out, week after week?
Every nation and country have their issues, including yours.
Therefore, The VI people do not need critics such as your self, who very slyly exudes evokes in your comments much incinuations, hateful sarcasm, racism and disdain for locals and Black people alike..
You probably lives here in a secluded and segregated community far away from Black people,while judging the local population as inferior and hoping your imperialist nation would come and take over our paradise for themselves….
Well, we desreve a place to call our home and our own also. Our ancestors have worked hard, made many bountifully rich for centuries, and oue ancestors, they were not paid a shilling or penny, only brutality, horror and death for centuries.
It is these days and times folk like you are seeking and hoping to bring back with the assistance of the UK and its imperial military.
It is not nice to make fun of someone downfall. Did’t your mama teach you, if you don’t have anything nice to say just don’t say anything at all.
You fully well know Mr. Fahie’s case right now……so stop talk nonsense.
How negligent, You have forgotten to add Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Columbus to the list commemorating the Isle of the Fat Virgin and Drake’s Channel and Highway
With any luck the channel and highway will soon be renamed after a deserving local. There is no need for the VI to be honouring a British pirate in that way.
The paid bloggers are out again reminding the VI about the difference between nation and territory, knowing full well that there’s context relevant to the use of the word. Hence, for example why we have national teams etc that compete at the international level.
We bashed and blamed the Governor, the commissioner of police, the UK government and its people for every bad thing that happens in the territory but every single day our people are packing up there families and are migrating to the same UK to resides by the droves, hoping for a better life for themselves and world class education for their children. Wake up and check it
Happy an intelligent and VI and Black warrior and defender was scoping out that one Resident, and finally put the beast in its place. Soo happyy!!