Monday Is VI-PR Friendship Holiday; Celebration Planned For 10 a.m. In Christiansted

Governor Kenneth Mapp has encouraged residents to join in celebrating the territory’s longstanding relationship with its neighbors in Puerto Rico.

“This year, Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day holds a special significance given that we are each facing recovery from some of the most devastating hurricanes in modern history,” the governor said. “We are bound by unbreakable family and economic ties and now we also share this unfortunate experience, however, I remain confident that we will get through this together and our bond will be stronger than ever.”

The Office of the Governor is one of the sponsors of the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico (VI-PR) Friendship Day celebration planned for Monday, October 9 – a legal local holiday.

Emerito Torres Jr., president of the VI-PR Friendship Committee, said this year’s 53rd anniversary celebration will be abbreviated, but meaningful. “We will be giving thanks to God for bringing us through these storms and [we will] have an opportunity for some stress relief,” he said.

The committee has organized a block party beginning at 10 a.m. in Christiansted across from Hotel Caravelle, also one of the event’s sponsors. Highlights include performances by Arnaldo El Mas Querido and Stanley and The Ten Sleepless Knights. Patrons will also witness this year’s crowning of the VI-PR Friendship Queen.