Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley led a local delegation to St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, for the 51st annual USVI/BVI Friendship Day celebrations held October 18–19 under the theme “Binding Our Ties Through Friendship and Culture.”
The event, hosted by USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach, Esq., featured cultural presentations at Emancipation Garden and a luncheon at the Mark C. Marin Center at Antilles School. The delegation included legislators, public officers, and members of the public.
A highlight of the weekend was a friendly basketball game between the USVI and BVI national teams, which drew strong support from residents of both territories.
“It was my pleasure, once again, to join with our brothers and sisters across the waters as we celebrated the unique bond that we have nurtured and maintained over the years — our friendships, our business relationships, our mutual support, and our familial ties,” Premier Wheatley said.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Bryan, Lieutenant Governor Roach, and the people of the USVI for their continued hospitality. “Together, we will continue to build bridges of cooperation and understanding that will serve our peoples well for generations to come,” Wheatley said.
The annual celebration began on October 21, 1972, when the first Friendship Day was held on Tortola following a proclamation by Acting Governor Norman Derek Matthews, OBE, encouraging residents to support the occasion. The 50th anniversary observance took place in October 2022 under the theme “Our Golden Jubilee: A Resilient Bond of Friendship.”
