VIPFA Launches Inaugural V.I. Palestinian Friendship Day

By Diana Dias
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A crowd starts to gather at the V.I. Palestinian Friendship Celebration. (Source Photo by Diana Dias)

The Virgin Islands Palestinian Friendship Association (VIPFA) hosted the first V.I. Palestinian Friendship Day celebration at the St. George Botanical Gardens on St. Croix on Sunday.

“This is our first year celebrating V.I. Palestinian Friendship Day,” said Ahmad Hussein, president of VIPFA.

Nov. 29 was proclaimed by the governor as Palestinian Virgin Islands Friendship Day, highlighting the community’s strong ties. To, which they are “very grateful for,” said Hussein. Nov. 29 also coincides with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, which was established by the United Nations in 1977. “We chose this date to bridge the history and the roots with the Virgin Islands Friendship,” said Hussein.

“Now we will celebrate this occasion every year,” he said.

A dance of unity at the St. George Botanical Garden as people from different cultures and backgrounds join in a traditional dance with Virgin Islands Palestinians. (Source Photo by Diana Dias)

Hussein said that the mission of VIPFA is to preserve and celebrate this day every year and, at the same time, integrate their roots, history, and tradition with the Virgin Islands community as a whole.

A traditional embroidered dress called a thobe is considered a powerful symbol of Palestinian national identity and cultural heritage. (Source Photo by Diana Dias)

In an attempt to do so, VIPFA donated some books that they brought back from the West Bank to the Florence Williams Public Library in Christiansted. A presentation was conducted for Amy De Sorbo, the director of the Division of Libraries and Museums, showcasing a selection of books and brochures.

Dallah, which can be made from gold. silver, steel or brass are used in the coffee traditions of the Palestinian people. Serving coffee is a sign of hospitality and respect. (Source Photo by Diana Dias)

“We will expand that section in the library to create the knowledge and allow people to enrich their knowledge with the Palestinian background,” said Hussein. Not only will VIPFA donate more to this collection, but the group will also be donating to the libraries on St. Thomas and St. John.

A traditional Arabic sofa and pillows. (Source Photo by Diana Dias)

At the same time, they will work on more events and workshops that will help tell the community who they are. “I need to know who you are from you; I don’t want to get it from a secondary source. I’d like to get it from a primary source,” said Hussein.

Moko jumbies came out to join the celebration at the St. George Botanical Garden. (Source Photo by Diana Dias)

“We like to tell people who we are as Palestinians. We want to go back to universalism and the cosmopolitanism of uniting people and creating alliances between civilizations. We see this can be done between peace, friendship, establishing bonds, love, understanding of universal rights and adhering to universal rights and standards,” he continued.

Henna is a reddish-brown dye that comes from the leaves of the henna plant. It can be used for temporary tattoos, hair dye, insect and mildew repellent, and other uses. (Source Photo by Diana Dias)

“Now the time has come where this is our home of Palestinians by roots but Virgin Islanders by choice. The time has come where we need to say this is who we are. We have a lot of shared values, and we have things that we do a little differently. We accept our differences and move on,” he concluded.