Colourfully clad dancers, enthusiastic storytellers and crafts heralded the 43rd celebration of the Virgin Islands-USVI Friendship Day on Saturday.
Held on St. Thomas, the ceremony also saw speeches from dignitaries of both territories, who stressed a need for travel to become easier between the two sets of islands.
USVI Governor Kenneth Mapp said he would do what he can to invite Premier Dr. Orlando Smith to speak before the US government about establishing convenient day visas between the territories.
“To bring it from two small territories here in the Caribbean, and how we need to bridge that final gap, I think you can really help us to get that message across and make it happen so that our people can have the freedom to travel,” Mr. Mapp said, addressing Dr. Smith at the ceremony.
He added that he is hopeful the visas will be a part of an immigration bill that he is optimistic will be passed in the US before the changing of presidential administrations in January.
Charlotte Amalie’s Reichhold Center for the Arts hosted the ceremony, which was themed “Ties across the waters that bind us.”
See the Sept. 22, 2016 edition for full coverage.
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