Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024

BVI holds gun salute for the Queen

Members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) held a gun salute honouring the life of Queen Elizabeth II at Queen Elizabeth Park earlier this afternoon.
Speaking at the brief ceremony, Governor John Rankin said for most of the people in the territory, the Queen has been a constant in their lives as she has served for 70 years.

“She lived through great change, times of joy, times of loss, of challenge and tribulation but she remained steadfast throughout through dignity, decency, grace, and dedication. Most of all her reigns were one of service to the people of the United Kingdom, her realms and overseas territories and the commonwealth…Throughout her life, Her Majesty visited well over 100 countries and territories. Touching the lives of millions around the world. That includes the people of the Virgin Islands,” Governor Rankin said.

“I know she touched the lives of people in these Virgins Islands, and I am grateful for the many tributes from those who remembered her visits so fondly. As I can testify when I was privileged to have an audience with Her Majesty, she was always knowledgeable, always interested and had a sense of fun. Today we join in the Queen Elizabeth Park to mourn the loss of the queen and to offer our thoughts and prayers to her family of which she was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,” the Governor added.

He noted that he wrote a letter of condolence to King Charles III on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands hoping he would take comfort in knowing the Queen was deeply respected and held in warm affection by people here.

Meanwhile, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said the Queen’s death was an end of an era and during that era, she had a great impact on people around the world and the Virgin Islands.

“I reflect on the impact on my very own mother, who was six years old when Her Majesty the Queen was coronated in 1952 and she recalls receiving a coronation cup. We might take it for granted today but the impact of having a young woman thrust into such a significant position as the head of the Commonwealth and Queen over the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories. Back then it suddenly was revolutionary and inspiring to women around the world. And that is certainly something that is not lost on me,” Dr Wheatley said.

The Premier also reflected on the visits of the Queen in 1966 and 1977 and how the memories are still held in earnest by the people of the territory who remembered them.

“I reflect even more personally on the fact that my grandfather, then Chief Minister, Dr Willard Wheatley, hosted Her Majesty and Prince Philip, right here in the Virgin Islands, and the type of pride that my family had with the pictures the portraits that they took together that still is in a position of prominence in our familia and I can say to you, that certainly it is a privilege for me to travel with the governor to the United Kingdom, and to convey our collective condolence to the royal family, to the people of the United Kingdom. To all overseas territories and to the Commonwealth,” Dr Wheatley said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Starmer Interested in Italy's Albania Asylum Plan: Meloni
Traffic to be Banned from London's Oxford Street under Sadiq Khan's Plan
Sky Betting & Gaming Reprimanded for Data Misuse
Ex-BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Sentenced Over Indecent Images of Children
UN Chief Criticizes Israel's Collective Punishment of Palestinians
High School Dropout Turned Billionaire and Space Tourist
FBI Investigates Assassination Attempt on Trump in Florida
A History of Assassination Attempts on US Leaders
UK Drops Harvey Weinstein Indecent Assault Charges
David Lammy Defends Political Donors Funding Clothing for UK Leaders
Starmer Pressured to Distance UK from Italy’s Immigration Approach
UK Airport Expansion Plans Amid Controversy
Columnists Resign from Jewish Chronicle Over Fabricated Gaza Articles
Jeremy Corbyn Advocates for New Leftwing Party
Successful Splashdown of SpaceX Polaris Dawn After Pioneering Private Spacewalk
UK Royal Family Extends Birthday Wishes to Prince Harry
Switzerland Unveils Alps, a High-Speed Supercomputer for AI
Hong Kong Criticizes UK Lawyers for UN Appeal on Behalf of Jimmy Lai
Keir Starmer Accused of Breaking Rules Over Party Donor Gifts
Poorest Families in UK Forced to Sleep on Floors Due to Lack of Beds
Ed Davey Urges Immediate NHS Investment
Staff Overwhelmed Due to New Child-to-Staff Ratio Rules in English Nurseries
US and UK Alarmed Over Potential Iran-Russia Nuclear Collaboration
Father Convicted of Rape Stripped of Parental Responsibility
Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' Series Displayed Together for the First Time in London
Queen Elizabeth II Statue Sparks Debate in Northern Ireland
Prince Harry Turns 40 Amid Royal Family Estrangement
British Policing Minister's Bag Stolen at Police Conference
UK To Implement Junk Food Ad Ban to Combat Childhood Obesity
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Visits US for Talks with President Biden
‘Living Nostradamus’ Fulfills Four Predictions, Foresees More Events
AI's Role in Changing Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Russia and Ukraine Exchange 206 Prisoners in UAE-Brokered Deal
Gisele Pelicot: From Survivor to Feminist Icon
Royal Navy's First 'Narco-Sub' Drug Seizure in the Caribbean
Northern Lights Illuminate Skies Over the UK
Citizens' Jury Supports Change in Assisted Dying Law
Russia Can End the War Now, Says PM as Putin Warns West
SpaceX Polaris Dawn Crew Makes History With First Private Spacewalk
Jon Bon Jovi Heroically Rescues Woman on Nashville Bridge
Fragmented EU Defence Industry Needs Urgent Coordination
Keir Starmer Accused of Concealing Impact of Winter Fuel Payment Cuts on Pensioners
Keir Starmer Urged to Publish Winter Fuel Payments Impact Assessment
Ex-CIA Officer Sentenced to 10 Years for Espionage
UK Economy Stalls for Second Consecutive Month
Downing Street to Begin Search for New Cabinet Secretary
UK Government Introduces Bill to Ban Rental Bidding Wars
Scottish Opposition Questions Cuts to Free School Meals and Rail Fares
NHS Delays in England Cause Thousands of Unnecessary Deaths, Inquiry Reveals
NHS Restricts Obesity Services across England, Investigates BMJ
×