USVI marks 100 years since Danish rule

One hundred years ago, officials raised a United States flag over the rooftops of Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.

The Stars and Stripes replaced Denmark’s Scandinavian cross, proclaiming to the world that St. Thomas and the surrounding islands would no longer be known as the Danish West Indies. Instead, they became the US Virgin Islands.

In that same city on Friday, parades, speeches and dignitaries including the prime minister of Denmark memorialised those events at the USVI Transfer Day Centennial celebration.

Officials at the Friday afternoon ceremony — who included Premier Dr. Orlando Smith and others from this territory — at times struck positive notes, but they also touched on serious issues past and present.

USVI Governor Kenneth Mapp said his territory had experienced “stellar growth” over the past 100 years, although he did mention that the people of the USVI still strongly desire full rights in the US.

USVI citizens can vote in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries but cannot cast a ballot in the general election. They can also vote for a representative in Congress, but that representative has no voting power.

When Denmark Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen spoke at the ceremony, he did not shy away from the dark side of his own country’s history in the region.

“There is no justification — whatsoever — for the exploitation of men, women and children that took place in these islands under Danish flag,” he said. “There is no justification for slavery. It is unforgiveable. Unforgiveable.”

Dr. Smith also spoke at the ceremony, recounting the affect of the 1917 transfer on this territory.

“Although the transfer brought many new rules and regulations, together we found ways to maintain our mutually beneficial relationship,” he said.

See the April 6, 2017 edition for full coverage.

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