Song, dress a positive step
We are pleased that the Virgin Islands is getting a territorial song and dress, and we look forward to the announcement of the winners.
The initiative ought to help to build a sense of VI identity, which is all too often lacking here. In this time of rapid globalisation, it seems that many young people are as likely to identify with a United States or United Kingdom musician or athlete as they are with the VI’s heroes.
Identity crisis is not new to the territory: The VI, like much of the post-colonial Caribbean, was for generations force-fed a Euro-centric version of its history.
Now and in the future, then, the territory must continue to be vigilant about reclaiming and honouring its own heritage as it moves, however slowly, toward its eventual independence. A song and dress are a step in this direction, particularly coming on the heels of the 2007 Constitution, which included a definition of a Virgin Islander for the first time.
The initiative should also serve as a boon to a tourism industry where travellers are increasingly conscious of the cultural characteristics of the places they visit.
As Cabinet decides the winners, we trust that members will choose the entries that best represent the rich culture and history of this territory.
We are also pleased with the community participation in the government-sponsored competition held to select the song and dress. After the contest was announced, several strong entries came from a wide cross-section of the population. Then the finalist-unveiling ceremony at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College last month packed the house.
This healthy involvement suggests that the community is excited about such initiatives. Others, then, will be welcome in the future.