“ESVI 60th Anniversary: Marking Milestones,” a one-hour television special produced by the Elections System of the Virgin Islands, is rescheduled from this evening to Saturday, March 11 at 4pm on WTJX-TV Channel 12, the territory’s PBS member station.
The program, a part of the System’s Diamond Jubilee celebration, will feature well known Virgin Islanders reflecting on 60 years of elections, memorable highpoints and sharing their vision for the future. It is hosted by Educator and Historian Gerard Emanuel.
Diamond Jubilee activities so far have included an open house exhibit of election milestones from February 20, 1963 when the system was established by Title 18 of the Virgin Islands Code to the present. The exhibit is currently available for public viewing in the lobby of the Elections Systems’ Sunny Isle office daily from 9 a.m. to 5 pm. An official ceremony earlier this week at Government House, honored Virgin Islanders who have been instrumental in the development of ESVI over the last six decades.
On Tuesday, February 21, ESVI and the University of the Virgin Islands hosted a forum at the Research and Technology Park, Albert Sheen Campus, St. Croix entitled: “From Jackson to Evans: The Fight for Representation and Universal Suffrage.” This spirited discussion hosted by John Abramson, retired Elections Supervisor, is available for viewing on the Government Access Channel and facebook.com/vivote.gov
Additional events during the Diamond Jubilee celebration will include “The March to Progress” on St. Thomas from Crystal Gade, the original location of the ESVI offices, to Emancipation Garden starting at 4 p.m. and open to the public; the announcement of the winners of the ESVI student essay competition, and several more video programs chronicling the growth of the system over the last 60 years.
“Thriving with Integrity, Elections System Celebrates Sixty!”