“What would H. Lavity Stoutt do? Right here! Right now!”  is the theme for the 23^rd annual celebration and 18^th wreath laying ceremony to pay homage to the Territory’s first Chief Minister, the late Honourable H. Lavity Stoutt.

The commemoration will take place on Monday, March 5 and is a traditional event hosted by the Government of the Virgin Islands in collaboration with the H. Lavity Stoutt Commemorative Committee.

A series of activities are planned  leading up to the event including GIS radio reports, talk show programmes, and interviews with various student bodies.

Speakers slated to address the ceremony include Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE; Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn; Leader of the Opposition and First District Representative, Honourable Andrew Fahie; and keynote speaker Mrs. V. Inez Archibald.

The day’s celebration will be held at the West End cemetery and is expected to begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. The public is invited to the celebrations.

The late H. Lavity Stoutt was born on March 7, 1929. He served as Chief Minister of the Virgin Islands for over sixteen years and is credited with establishing the cruise ship pier, creating the Social Security Scheme, overseeing the construction of the Central Administration Complex and spearheading the development of the local community college, which is named in his honour.

Mr. Stoutt was at the helm throughout the Territory’s development as an international finance centre and was described as being very passionate and committed to the development of educational opportunities for the people of these islands.

The first Monday in March is declared a public holiday in celebration of the anniversary of the birthday of the Territory’s first Chief Minister. He died on May 14, 1995.

The Government of the Virgin Islands through the Ministry of Education and Culture celebrates the life of the late Honourable H. Lavity Stoutt as a person of historic significance to the Territory.