Premier Wheatley led BVI delegation to USVI
The British Virgin Islands planned a strong presence for the 51st USVI–BVI Friendship Day on October 18–19 under the theme "Binding Our Ties Through Friendship and Culture." Reports conflict: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) said all St. Thomas activities were cancelled because of unstable weather and Premier Wheatley confirmed the cancellation to VINO, while Jahphix Television (JTV) reported that Premier Wheatley did lead a delegation and that cultural presentations, a luncheon and a friendly basketball game took place.
The British Virgin Islands had been set to be well represented at the 51st annual USVI–BVI Friendship Day observance scheduled for October 18–19, with Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Wheatley due to lead a delegation of legislators, public officers and community members. The two-day programme, hosted by USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, carried the theme "Binding Our Ties Through Friendship and Culture," according to earlier releases from the Government of the Virgin Islands and reporting by St Thomas Source.
Original plans for Saturday called for cultural presentations at Emancipation Garden in Charlotte Amalie beginning at 10 a.m., featuring music, dance, storytelling and performances celebrating the shared heritage of the two territories. Sunday’s events were to move to the Antilles School’s Mark C.
The weekend had also included a highly anticipated friendly men’s national basketball game between the USVI and BVI teams, although VINO earlier reported that the basketball match had already been cancelled before a wider postponement was announced. New developments have produced contradictory accounts of what actually happened on the weekend.
Virgin Islands News Online reported that all USVI/BVI Friendship Day activities planned in St. Thomas were cancelled because of unstable weather conditions affecting and approaching both territories; VINO said organisers cited safety and the approaching weather system as the reason and that Premier Wheatley confirmed the cancellation to VINO.
That report urged residents and visitors to monitor official communications and to check with organisers before making travel or event plans. By contrast, Jahphix Television (JTV) published a report saying Premier Wheatley did lead a local delegation to St. Thomas for the 51st Friendship Day on October 18–19.
JTV described cultural presentations at Emancipation Garden, a luncheon at the Mark C. Morin Center at Antilles School, and called the friendly basketball game between the USVI and BVI national teams a weekend highlight that drew strong support from residents of both territories. JTV quoted Premier Wheatley expressing pleasure at joining "our brothers and sisters across the waters" and thanking Governor Bryan, Lieutenant Governor Roach and the people of the USVI for their hospitality.
The differing accounts are significant: one source reports a weather-related cancellation confirmed by the Premier, while another media outlet reports the events took place with the Premier in attendance. We have reached out to Government of the Virgin Islands officials and USVI organisers for clarification and await further confirmation.
Friendship Day was established in the early 1970s to recognise shared history, culture, commerce and family connections between the territories; the first Friendship Day took place on Tortola on October 21, 1972, following a proclamation by Acting Governor Norman Derek Matthews, and the 50th anniversary was observed in October 2022.
Until the situation is fully clarified, residents and visitors are advised to follow official channels for updates and travel advisories and to check with event organisers before travelling.
Primary source: St Thomas Source