The Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the UK Speaker of the House of Commons since November 2019, visited this week.
He is a friend of the BVI and someone who Hon Lorna Smith, when she was Director of BVI House in London, asked to be the Chairman of our All-Party Group (APPG) in the UK Parliament.
The APPG helps OTs by asking relevant questions of the government that seek clarification on aspects of the FCDO’s management responsibilities for the Territories and to influence the way in which the British taxpayer views these ‘appendages’ of the UK.
As Speaker, the constituency of Sir Lindsay is safe. No opposition can be mounted but it means that he had to swear to impartiality in his dealings in the Commons.
It is a double-edged sword for true impartiality is an almost unattainable ideal that may, as an unintended consequence, rob the possessor of that which makes us human.
But it is clear from conversations that Sir Lindsay has his hands on the pulse of international relations and a vision for the peaceful coexistence of the family of nations.
And as the politics of isolationism sweeps the globe and as the principles of democracy are strained, a new hegemony may be in the making over which the considerable influence exerted by the West on global affairs since 1945 may be threatened.
That could be dangerous for when the global community needs a police, only one country comes to mind.
His Excellence, the Governor, welcomed Sir Lindsay with a reception that also saw the reopening of the old government house museum. The considerable work of the Trustees and volunteers was evident in the various exhibits.
To adequately appreciate the wonders of the museum, an investment of time is required. Although we were surprised to see that Thad Lettsome, who represented the Territory in his Laser at the Paris Olympics, was immortalized in a display under the caption ‘100% Thad Lettsome it is.”
In the end, our true economy may be the blue economy and we should demonstrate ownership of it.
As the acclaimed sailing capital of the Caribbean, if not the world, we have wondered why Thad Lettsome has not been greeting our visitors at the T. B Lettsome International airport cast in his laser on competition seas where he had been taking the good name of BVI throughout the world for more than a decade.
But if our self-interest, in this instance, appears to undermine our usual objectivity, we claim refuge in the shadow of a valued Museum Trustee, Ermine Penn, who hails from the cradle of BVI boatbuilding and seamanship, as does Thad, and who has spent a lifetime seeking to preserve BVI history, culture and heritage.
Still, we felt hope for the BVI as we listened to the mock parliament that took place yesterday by some of our young people; Another welcome activity for Speaker Hoyle.
They made compelling arguments for the blue economy and demonstrated that they too deserve a stake in the BVI that is, certainly, theirs.
Our pride in those youngsters was boundless. They were outstanding. And their presentations gave notice that BVI will be in safe hands.
Sir Lindsay was impressed and we reflected that in the continued advancement of the BVI, each of them has a part to play.
The unfortunate comment by a community member who ignores the cosmopolitan nature of the Territory, unnecessarily hurts our children of all hue and ethnicity and is unwelcome.
Another Old Government House Museum Trustee, Jillian Dunlop, a one (wo)man army who worked herself to exhaustion for the reopening of the museum, was careless or thoughtful enough to display three of our Friday Blogs for the benefit of visitors to the museum and posterity.
We applaud her courage.
Who will tell our stories? Each of us has a part to play in that regard.
And we are duty bound to tell some of those stories on Fridays.
Happy Friday!