Great March Holiday Declared
Monday, November 24, 2025, has been declared a public holiday in the Virgin Islands to mark the Great March of 1949 and the restoration of the Legislative Council. The day commemorates the mass demonstration led by Theodolph H. Faulkner, Isaac G. Fonseca and others that helped reshape the territory’s political future.
The Government has declared Monday, November 24, 2025, a public holiday to commemorate the Great March of 1949 and the subsequent restoration of the Legislative Council. The observance remembers the historic demonstration on November 24, 1949, when more than 1,500 Virgin Islanders — led by figures including Theodolph H.
Fonseca (known as "Glanny") and Carlton L.E. deCastro — marched to the then-Commissioner’s Office (now the Governor’s Office) to present a petition challenging the governance arrangements administered from Antigua. That petition and the public action that accompanied it are widely credited with catalysing the return of local representative government and setting the course for the modern political development of the Territory.
First made a public holiday in 2021, the Commemoration of the Great March of 1949 and the Restoration of the Legislative Council is framed as a day of reflection on the sacrifices and civic action that helped expand democratic governance in the Virgin Islands. Organisers and community leaders have encouraged residents to take the opportunity to reflect on the event’s legacy and on the continuing importance of civic engagement in shaping the Territory’s future.
The holiday arrives amid renewed public debate about governance and self-determination after recent controversies involving Governor Daniel Pruce. Critics have described some of the governor’s actions as controversial, and commentators say those events have reminded many residents that the journey toward fuller political autonomy and self-determination remains an ongoing process.
The commemoration, officials say, is therefore both a remembrance of past achievements and a prompt for contemporary reflection. For older residents, the day recalls a defining moment in local history; for younger generations it offers an opportunity to learn about the origins of their political institutions.
Community and civic groups traditionally use the date to hold talks, educational events and moments of remembrance, and residents are encouraged to observe the holiday in ways that honour its historical significance. This report draws on coverage by Virgin Islands News Online and on historical records of the November 24, 1949 march that helped restore representative government to the Territory.
Primary source: VINO