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THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR GOVERNMENT HOUSE Charlotte Amalie, V.I. 00802 340-774-0001 VIRGIN ISLANDS AFRICAN HERITAGE WEEK AND AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY kKRaEKEKKKKRKKEE BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES kRekkktkkkkeaekeek A PROCLAMATION In honorable respect to people of African ancestry and international cultural heritage observances celebrating freedom movements and liberating achievements of the African world, the Virgin Islands of the United States annually celebrates, commemorates and recognizes Virgin Islands African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day in May. Enacted through Act 5473 of 1989 pursuant to Title 1, Chapter 11, Section 192, General Provisions of the Virgin Islands Code, Virgin Islands African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day are to be annually commemorated during the third week of May and on May 25th respectively. In 2019, Virgin Islands African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day observances, commemorations and celebrations are in harmony with the fifth year of the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2024 (UN Resolution 68/237) with the theme of “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development.” Virgin Islands African Heritage Week annually commemorates, observes, memorializes and celebrates that African Liberation Day is rooted in the First Conference of Independent African States convened by 8 African nations in 1958 during African Freedom Day (April 15th) and led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of the independent Republic of Ghana- an African nation that many Virgin Islands Caribbean people have ancestral family lineage with. African Liberation Day is also known as “African Unity Day” and “Africa Day” by the African Union (AU) as it simultaneously commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in May 1963 when 30 of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia committed to “help bring about change, freedom and independence to many African countries. In 1991, the OAU established the African Economic Community (AEC), and in 2002 the OAU established its own successor, the African Union (AU).” May 25th annually marks a time set aside for public education, reflection, contemplation, Proclamation — Virgin Islands African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day 2019 Ancestral Afrakan Spiritual Council; and others supporting Pan Africanism, Global African Unity and Global Reparatory Justice efforts to optimize and support the restoration of our shared humanity. The collective work, study, creativity, self-determination and revolutionary strength of these organizations strengthens the foundational support for these annual observances of Virgin Islands African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day. Virgin Islands African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day 2019 marks the 61st anniversary of these historic convenings to support Global African unification, liberation and social development. The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the Caribbean and a Land Grant Institution (LGI) facilitated by its’ Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC@UVI) continues to collaborate holistically with existing governmental and non-governmental organizations to support, teach, research, institute and facilitate Virgin Islands African Heritage Week and African Liberation Day cultural heritage education and commemorative socioeconomic activities, commemorations and projects. African Liberation Day, African Unity Day and Africa Day events hosted by the AU, CARICOM, UN-IDPAD, and other international organizations and institutions maintain a respectful platform for the Government of the Virgin Islands to promote African World and Pan African collaborative interactions with VI Caribbean NGOs, CSNs, and beyond that support human rights, justice, freedom and liberation among our shared humanity. NOW THEREFORE, I, Albert Bryan, Jr., Governor of the Virgin Islands of the United States, by virtue of the Authority vested in me by the Virgin Islands Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended, do hereby proclaim May 25, 2019 as African Liberation Day inclusive of the week of May 19-26, 2019 as Virgin Islands African Heritage Week 2019 throughout the Virgin Islands of the United States in solidarity with national, regional and global observances. May our Virgin Islands community continue to ring the bells of freedom with respect, solidarity and harmony with our regional, national and international sisters and brothers commemorating, observing, proclaiming and celebrating similar African Heritage, Unity, Freedom, and Liberation Day activities. I call upon all residents, ancestral natives and visitors of the Virgin Islands of the United States and respectfully inclusive of our sisters and brothers in the wider Caribbean and Americas, to support the organizational, individual and other multicultural events scheduled in honor of all of these historic occasions. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and cause the Seal of the Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States to be affixed at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, this day of May, 2019, A.D. Go's “Albert ‘an; Governor