Freedom Must Be Defended, Says Penn
Hon. Marlon A. Penn urged descendants of Nottingham Estate to protect the legacy of their ancestors during the opening of the 250th commemoration at the Stickit in Long Look on June 28, 2026. He stressed that celebration is not completion and called on every generation to actively defend and expand the freedoms won by the original free people.
Penn urged residents to safeguard the legacy of their forebears as he addressed the opening ceremony of the 250th Commemoration of the Anniversary of Freedom of Nottingham Estate on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Stickit in Long Look. A direct descendant of the 25 who first settled as free people in Long Look, Penn reflected on the long arc of achievement that has followed those early freedoms.
He invited attendees to imagine what the original settlers would make of their descendants — people who have become community leaders, business owners, educators, healthcare workers and public officials. "Would they imagine that their story would still be told a quarter of a millennium later?" Penn asked.
He noted that every profession and every success among the descendants is another chapter in a story that began more than 250 years ago. Penn tempered celebration with a warning: ceremony should not be mistaken for completion. "Their legacy is not simply something we inherit. For freedom is never permanently secured.
It must be defended by every generation," he said. He framed freedom broadly, saying the ancestors understood it meant more than the removal of chains. It meant owning land, building families, creating opportunities, educating children, standing together and leaving something better for those who come after.
That broader definition underpinned the commemorative message for Long Look and the wider Virgin Islands community. Speaking directly to younger generations, Penn called for continued investment in strong families, education and community structures that allow youth to dream without limits.
He urged residents to prioritise unity over division, to preserve heritage and to create economic and social opportunities that honor the sacrifices of the past. The 250th commemoration brings renewed attention to Nottingham Estate’s place in BVI history and serves as both celebration and a reminder of ongoing civic responsibility.
For residents of Long Look and the Virgin Islands at large, Penn’s remarks offered a clear challenge: to treat freedom as an active task, not a concluded achievement, and to ensure the foundations laid by earlier generations support a more equitable future. As the ceremonies continue this year, organizers and attendees are expected to mark the milestone with events that honour history while promoting community-building initiatives that reflect Penn’s call to action.
Primary source: VINO