Senate Hears Updates and Status On VIPR Friendship Day

The 175th Emancipation Commemoration Committee, the Virgin Islands Puerto Rico Friendship Committee, the St. Croix Administrator, and the Mayor of Vieques, Puerto Rico, shared an update on the status of activities, achievements, and challenges during the 35th Legislature’s Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks meeting Thursday.

Carol Burke, chairwoman of the 175th Emancipation Commemoration Committee, provided a comprehensive testimony detailing the committee’s latest developments. The restoration of Buddhoe Park, a historically significant sacred site, is among the successes. The committee cleaned, renovated, and restored Buddhoe Park on St. Croix due to its dilapidated condition. Moreover, significant progress was made through archival and digitization initiatives, which included the vi175.com website, a repository of historically significant information, according to the press release.

In addition, the committee worked with an unidentified public relations firm to secure media coverage in approximately 30 publications, including Essence Magazine and prominent travel and tourism-focused publications, in addition to over 700 syndicated stories.

Sen. Alma Heyliger Francis questioned the rationale behind the committee’s decision to incur media costs rather than collaborate with the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Carol Burke responded that although the committee did not wish to use funds for this purpose, it was necessary to do so, the press release stated.