A Mock Sitting was held today at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium in Paraquita Bay, marking a significant event in the ongoing 75th Anniversary celebrations of the restoration of the Virgin Islands Legislature. 

Speaker for the Fifth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands, Honourable Corine George-Massicote, in her Welcome remarks said, 

"This Youth Mock Sitting is more than a symbolic exercise; it offers the next generation a chance to engage with the processes that shape our laws, governance, and future. Your voices, ideas and leadership matter, and today you join a tradition guiding our Territory for three quarters of a century." 

The Mock Sitting featured Secondary School Students from across the Territory, who gathered to debate the 2022-2023 Constitutional Review Commission Report, which was laid in the House on Wednesday, 31 January 2024. The event attracted a lively audience including Members of the 5th House of Assembly, parents, teachers, and students, showcasing the Territory’s commitment to youth engagement and civic education.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change extended heartfelt congratulations to the students for their impressive participation. 

“Our future is bright, as we have seen today. We must continue to encourage our youth and do our part to ensure the path remains bright for them,” the Deputy Premier said, highlighting the importance of fostering the next generation of leaders as part of the 75th Anniversary celebrations. 

The anniversary events will continue with an evening of music and celebration at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, 23 November, at the C.B. Romney Tortola Pier Park. The festivities will culminate with a Unifying Church Service on Sunday, 30 November, at 8:30 a.m. at the St. George’s Anglican Church on Mainstreet.

Everyone is invited to join in these upcoming events, which honour the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future of the Virgin Islands Legislature.

For more information and event details, please visit https://www.facebook.com/HOABVI