The 'other side of VI history' is now up for sale
This morning, May 3, 2013 the Public Library Service awoke to having on its shelves a new book titled “Struggles and Triumphs”, a book written by prominent Virgin Islands author Ms Jennie Wheatley. The book was launched last evening, May 2, 2013 by the Ministry of Education and Culture in collaboration with the Public Library Service. The ceremony was held at Maria’s by the Sea’s conference room and attended by many writers, readers, participants among other specially invited guests.
Underscoring the significance of the history captured and inked in the book, Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Mryon V. Walwyn applauded its author, participants and supporters for the initiative that will now tell the world the other side of the history of the Virgin Islands.
"Triumphs and Struggles tells a story of us as Virgin Islanders long before we marketed our shores as a pristine tourist destination or top financial services jurisdiction."
Hon. Walwyn reflected on the hard times that residents of the Virgin Islanders would have gone through in days gone by but alluded to its significance in making the Territory what it is today as is captured in the book. "I heard the recollections of the elders of the daunting struggles Virgin Islanders had in finding employment opportunities. Many of our young people and visitors may never have heard of the contributions during the great World War II or even recall the close connections between the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands [that] came to be."
The Minister said citizens of the Virgin Islands now have an opportunity to visit the rich history of yesteryear. "Travel the history and explore a wealth of information. The contributions of this book, Triumphs and Struggles, in preserving the history of our people and of struggles of Virgin Islanders and belongers...would help ground future generations in our identity as long as it is available and our public library should remain a place of exploration."
Author Ms Jennie Wheatley has a rooted wealthy history of service in the education system of the Virgin Islands. She had taken on the challenge of compiling and writing the book having been inspired by the stories being told in recordings of a number of participants.
She was choosen for the task of writing the book because of her history in productive oral history projects and the fact that she is an accomplished author. The documentary and the book were based on information gathered from VIslanders who migrated to the US Virgin Islands and further afields in the 1940s in search of a better life.
It captures the hardships and successes, poverty and better days, and the yearning for advancement for themselves and families of the participants, some of whom have since passed on following the recordings.
Most of the participants are still alive today and no doubt have a lot more stories to tell that are vital to the rich history of the Virgin Islands, some told and others not yet. One thing is sure is that a side that has never been explored for the history writing is now captured in the new book 'Struggles and Triumphs', which is on the shelves of the Public Library Service for sale to the public.
Among those participants present to witness the launch of the book were Mrs Delma Sprauve, Mrs Eileene L. Parsons, Mr Carlo Woods, Mrs Adeline Leonard, Mr Reginald Callwood and Mrs Daisy Callwood. Others who contributed to the book include Mr Eugene Fahie, Mrs Ethie Rabsatt, Ms Ruth Thomas, Mr Waldo O'Neal, Mrs Angeline Smith, and Mr Everad Smith.
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17 Responses to “The 'other side of VI history' is now up for sale”
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