Virgin Islands: An Alphabetical Heritage

By Quincy F. Lettsome, PhD

The names Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands indeed do require some clarifications. The former is the original name given to the entire Archipelago by Christopher Columbus at the time of his historic landfall in 1493. However, the qualifying word British, which is added to Virgin Islands, could be viewed as an adaptation mainly to differentiate between the British Virgin Islands and United States Virgin Islands. In official and constitutional references, the term Virgin Islands is utilized exclusively. However, in other contexts, the terms British Virgin Islands and Virgin Islands are used interchangeably. The explanation of these differences should suffice at this stage. For further and more detailed information, each name should be reviewed under its particular alphabetical placement.
The text is arranged generally in direct alphabetical order. The various alphabetical entries deal with a variety of information, except two categories, which are integral parts of the Culture and Heritage of the Virgin Islands. These are August Festival Celebrations and also Boatbuilding and Sailing Legacies. The direct alphabetical arrangement will facilitate the utilization of the text.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514458822

Quincy F. Lettsome, PhD

This Author is a native of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), where he received his early Education and as a student began writing poems in 1956. He began his Teaching Career in 1961 and attended a College in Antigua. During 1969, this Writer published, “ Virgin Verses 1: The Originals.” In 1972, he completed undergraduate studies at the University of New Castle Upon Tyne ( UK). In 1976 he published , “Virgin Verses II : Selected Poems and Lyrics.” This Writer in 1977 completed an M.Ed. Degree in Curriculum Development at Manchester University (UK) and his Thesis made a contribution to knowledge. This Author presented an Anthology to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. This Author worked in the Education System of the Virgin Islands for over forty years, as Principal of the Cane Garden Bay School and Road Town School, Deputy Principal BVI High School and served as.Chief Education Officer, including President of the BVI Teachers Union for eighteen years. He introduced the idea for World Teachers Day, in Geneva during 1982. In 1984, he published, “Virgin Verses III : Sunlit Voices of Our Destiny.” In 1991, this Writer completed a Ph.D. Degree in Curriculum Development at Hull University (UK). He has membership in the ‘Callaloo Poets’ and the ‘International Society of Poets.’ In 2004, the BVI Tourist Board launched his book, “Virgin Islands August Monday and Festivals “ The Writer is now a Consultant. He has witnessed Virgin Verses evolved to be an extensive Creative Cluster which observed its Golden Jubilee during 2006/07.

Book preview

VIRGIN ISLANDS

An Alphabetical Heritage

Quincy F. Lettsome, Ph.D.

Copyright

© 2016 by Quincy F. Lettsome, Ph.D.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016902207

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-5144-5883-9

                 Softcover         978-1-5144-5884-6

                  eBook             978-1-5144-5882-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

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without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 06/15/2016

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Contents

Foreword

Preface

How To Use This Book

Acknowledgements

Alphabetical Listings and Alphabetical Categories

Bibliography

The Millennium Committee

The Millennium Secretariat

Chief Minister’s Office

Government of the Virgin Islands

FOREWORD

The title Virgin Islands: An Alphabetical Heritage has been deliberately selected. A clarification of the meaning of the important words in the title will indicate the appropriateness of the words. The term alphabetical indicates that the information is arranged in the conventional sequence of the alphabet. This is very often simply referred to as alphabetical order.

The names Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands indeed do require some clarifications. The former is the original name given to the entire Archipelago by Christopher Columbus at the time of his historic landfall in 1493. However, the qualifying word British, which is added to Virgin Islands, could be viewed as an adaptation mainly to differentiate between the British Virgin Islands and United States Virgin Islands. In official and constitutional references, the term Virgin Islands is utilized exclusively. However, in other contexts, the terms British Virgin Islands and Virgin Islands are used interchangeably. The explanation of these differences should suffice at this stage. For further and more detailed information, each name should be reviewed under its particular alphabetical placement.

The text is arranged generally in direct alphabetical order. The various alphabetical entries deal with a variety of information, except two categories, which are integral parts of the Culture and Heritage of the Virgin Islands. These are August Festival Celebrations and also Boatbuilding and Sailing Legacies. The direct alphabetical arrangement will facilitate the utilization of the text.

The word heritage is being utilized in its broadest application. Heritage pertains to what a group of people or country has inherited. In other words, it means what has been reserved for a people, such as its culture, or its way of life, including history, traditions, and customs. There is also another aspect of the term heritage and that is transmitting or handing down culture from generation to generation or from the heirs to their successors. The term heritage, meaning cultural heritage, is a dynamic, resilient, and perpetuating term that plays a significant role in the identity of a people. This passing on of the cultural heritage is done by various ways. These include history, writing, oral traditions, myths, legends and various sayings peculiar to a people, such as Virgin Islanders. It is important to point out, however, that the recording or writing of a people’s heritage is the best manner to ensure its preservation.

This text, Virgin Islands: An Alphabetical Heritage, could be viewed as being one of the subsections and end products of the Creative Cluster referred to as Virgin Verses Creative Micro Curricular and Micro State Dimensions. This is appropriately denoted by the acronym VIRCRE-MICRODIMS.

There are several major components of this Creative Collection. Virgin Verses, which consists of poems and lyrics, which had its inception in 1956 and is the Foundation Component.

There is a Creative Section, as its name implies, which focuses on creative aspects, such as indigenous Christmas cards, greeting cards, and postcards. Micro Curricular Studies is another major segment, which originated in 1966. It has investigated and established the periphery of a new frontier of knowledge and designs, innovative curriculum, especially for small or micro states or countries. Micro State Perspective originated in 1971, as a periodical in The Island Sun, and also features in The BVI Beacon, Virgin Islands, The StandPoint, as well as the radio stations ZBVI and ZROD and more recently ZVCR

Micro State Dimensions is probably the most extensive component of these creative fields. It deals with all aspects of micro states, such as historical, geographical, economical, and social aspects. It is in this large category, this textbook is placed conveniently and accordingly.

This text could be viewed as a product of the combination of the various components of Virgin Verses Creative Micro Curricular and Micro State Dimensions. It incorporates, in its entirety, its various attributes and has brought them to bear on its birthplace, the Virgin Islands. It has resulted in this creative conglomerate being almost self-sustaining as well as interdependent..

The title of this text, Virgin Islands: An Alphabetical Heritage, is specifically written in a simplified manner. So too is the text and the direct alphabetical arrangements should result in speedy, accurate, and easy references.

Just as this book is extensive in its subject matter, so too is its application generally. It should provide a handy reference for homes, schools, colleges, universities, and libraries. This text would be a favourite among Virgin Islanders, both of British and United States, or in other words the Greater Virgin Islands. It is an ideal text to prepare for class quizzes and general knowledge competitions on the Virgin Islands. For tourists and visitors who are exploring these beautiful islands, known as Nature’s Little Secrets, it would reveal many cultural secrets and provide very valuable information indeed. It is hoped that this text would be entertaining, interesting, and informative for all those who are fascinated by the rich, unique, dynamic, exhilarating Cultural Heritage of the Virgin Islands, or the British Virgin Islands.

DEDICATED

TO

The Memory of :

My Parents : Captain Maxwell Lettsome and Mrs. Floreca Malone – Lettsome,

My Siblings and their Heirs,

My Grand Mother, Catherine Lettsome and other Grand Parents, Alexander Lettsome, Ezekiel and Rossetta Malone, Aunts and Uncles,

Older Virgin Islanders and Our Ancestors in general :

Who cherished and preserved our Cultural Heritage

and passed it on to succeeding generations of Virgin Islanders..

:

PREFACE

The title Virgin Islands: An Alphabetical Heritage has been specially selected. As the title implies, it pertains to information about the Culture and Heritage of the Virgin Islands, arranged in an order according to the conventional sequence of the letters of the alphabet.

The information and data in this text relate to many aspects of the Cultural Heritage of the Virgin Islands, or the British Virgin Islands. It highlights such aspects as historical, geographical, economical, social, cultural, constitutional, and political facts. As would be seen, many of these events originated and evolved down the ages.

Several advantages could be accrued from such an alphabetical arrangement. It would be appropriate to note some of the most important ones. Firstly, it assists with locating information expeditiously. Secondly, it facilitates quick referencing. Thirdly, it should enhance the memory with easy and accurate recalling of data. Fourthly and generally, it should assist readers with learning about the Cultural Heritage of the Virgin Islands.

The research and collecting of information for this text commenced as long ago as 1965. As Principal of the then Cane Garden Bay School, I tried to encourage the studying and teaching of local facts. In those days such literature was very limited and practically nonexistent, and I was forced to research the information and also compile it. From that time, I have been collecting and compiling such information. Learning about their environment very often motivates students and this was the beginning of the ‘Micro Curricular Trail,’ which culminated in the academic recognition by Manchester University in the UK, that Micro Curricular Studies is a relatively new and emerging frontier of knowledge, which achieved more alcolades and. ultimately academia at the doctoral level at Hull University, also of the UK.

The information in this text has been collected over a period of some thirty five years from about 1965 to about 2000. The manuscript is as enduring as the Cultural Heritage of the British Virgin Islands. The manuscript survived a storm when the computer was practically destroyed. It is a miracle that it remained intact and it took many months to locate the manuscript on the computer. . This is the reason why it took such a long time to be published. This text indicates in many ways the unique, rich Cultural Heritage of the British Virgin Islands. For the Author, despite some challenges, it has been a joyous adventure exploring and revealing the Culture and Heritage of the Virgin Islands. I hope that the readers will also read with enjoyment as they explore the unique and enduring Cultural Heritage of the Virgin Islands.

Quincy F. Lettsome, PhD

Author, Educator, Consultant

Long Swamp

East End

Tortola

British Virgin Islands

November 1994

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

The information in the text is arranged in two main ways. Firstly, there is what could be termed direct alphabetical listing. Secondly, there is alphabetical order within categories. All alphabetical sequences are from A to Z accordingly.

Most of the data are organized in direct alphabetical listing. In order to locate a particular item, reference is made directly to the appropriate alphabetical grouping. This type of direct arrangement certainly enables the book to be utilized quickly.

The second arrangement is in alphabetical order within a category. This pattern is restricted to two categories with a great deal of information and that are integral parts of the Cultural Heritage of the Virgin Islands. These are August Festival Celebrations and also Boatbuilding and Sailing Legacies. Within each category, the information is arranged in an alphabetical format, from A to Z. Each item is entered under the appropriate alphabetical placement.

To further enhance the speed and ease of obtaining information, there is an index for this book. The index is also arranged in alphabetical sequence from A to Z. Each item is entered under the appropriate alphabetical placement in two methods. These are directly and within the two categories that have been identified previously.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am indeed grateful to the numerous persons and agencies who have assisted and contributed to the compiling and publishing of this book. There were many senior and old Virgin Islanders with whom I spoke and gleaned so much in casual conversations. These included two of my grand parents Mrs.Margaret Melchoir-Potter-Stoutt-Thomas and Mrs. Catherine Potter- Lettsome, who were both centenarians. My Granny Catherine delighted in telling me the old time happenings. Their life time experiences were revealing and extensive .and some of their perceived changes heralded in many ways the development of the modern British Virgin Islands. There were also many Aunts and Uncles and others who had so much to tell.

I am also grateful to my late parents Mrs. Floreca Malone-Lettsome and Captain Maxwell Lettsome. By all accounts my Mother was among one of the first students to be awarded the once highly esteemed Standard Seven Examination Certificate, as a student of the East End Methodist Elementary School.. She was able to relate many events that many people did not seem to perceive or remember.. She seems to possess such unique historical and social insights in many developments and events. My Father similar to many young men of his time went to sea at a rather early age, under the directions of his Father the late Alexander Lettsome. My Father seems to have worked his way from Cabin Boy to Captain. The sea was so deeply in grained in him that his children laughed at his night mares about sailing. Similar to many other captains of the British Virgin Islands, he possessed an exceptional knowledge and experience about the sea, having sailed for over seventy five years among the British Virgin Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Eastern Caribbean. He related to us his children, so many incidents about his time on the high seas.

The stories, legends and information that have been told to me were indeed passing on the Cultural Heritage of the British Virgin Islands to an eager listener.. This book could therefore be viewed as the continuation of passing on of the Legacy of the Virgin Islands. It has progressed from oral tradition and memories to an authentic historical document for future generations of Virgin Islanders.

I am also indebted to the staff of several institutions. I am grateful to the Staff of the then newly instituted Caribbean Studies Unit., especially Miss Aurie Lettsome,. I am also grateful to Miss Myra Nibbs and Mr. Wayne Jennings. I am also indebted to the other members of Staff of the Road Town Public Library as well as the Staff of the East End Community Library, which is located at Long Swamp. I am deeply indebted to the Staff of the Archives Unit, especially the former Director, Mrs.Verna Penn-Moll and her successor Mr. Christopher Varlack as well as Mrs. Jennifer Fleming-Henry. I will also like to acknowledge the Staff of the Xlibris Publishing Company for their advice, assistance and cooperation. The Staff has been very helpful and professional in all aspects. I also acknowledge the Editors of the Island Sun, the BVI Beacon and VI StandPoint for the information that is published on the British Virgin Islands. I am deeply indebted to my wife Mrs. Kirlin Lettsome and our Children for their support and encouragement, which has enabled me to produce yet another book.

I acknowledge the creativity of the artist Mr. Cedric Turnbull who painted the drawing that of the cover of this book. He compiled a very vivid creative painting of the beautiful scenery of the Virgin Islands. He captured in vivid colour and action two of the traditional sailing sloops of the Virgin Islands sailing on the enchanting waters with the scenic beauty of some of the islands of this famed Archipelago in the background. Similarly, I also acknowledge the skills of the Staff of Xlibris who scanned and reproduced the artwork of the artist. Their respective capabilities produced a cover for the book that is truly representative of the scenic beauty of the environment of the Virgin Islands as well as part of the history and culture of its people.

Quincy F. Lettsome, Ph.D.

Author of - Virgin Islands :

An Alphabetical Heritage.

A Listings

Abraham Leonard Community Center

A Cooking Oddity

Administration Building of Anegada

Administrator’s Title Changed to that of Governor

African Location

Agriculture

Agricultural Exhibition

Agricultural Experiment Station

Alexander O. Shirley Recreation Ground

Alexandrina Maduro Primary School

Ailing

Almond Tree

Althea Scatliffe Primary School

Althea Scatliffe Primary School—Tenth Anniversary Celebrations

Anegada

Anegada Airport

Anegada Iguana

Anegada Methodist Chapel School

Anegada Methodist—Government School Building

Anegada Passage

Anegada School

Angelfish

Anglican Day School

Anglophone Caribbean

Annexation

Annual Dog Show

Antilles

Apron

Arawaks

Arbor Day

Arrowroot

Arrowroot Mill

A Taste of Guavaberry

Atlantic Ocean

Atlantis

At-Large Membership System

Audain, the Pastor

August Festivities

August Festival Celebrations

August Festival Celebrations: A Glossary of Festival Terms

August Festival

August Monday

August Monday Parade

August Tuesday

August Saturday

August Sunday

August Wednesday

August Wednesday Parade

Band

BVI Festival Committee

Calypso

Calypsonian

Calypso Contest

Calypso Crown

Calypso King

Decorated Objects

East End–Long Look Festival Committee

Emancipation

Emancipation Sunday

Festival Arches

Festival Booth

Festival Committee

Festival Decorations

Festival Float

Festival Floupe

Festival Monday

Festival Parade

Festival Queen

Festival Queen Pageant

Festival Tuesday

Festival Wednesday

Grand Parade of Troupes, Floats, and Floupes

Miss BVI

Miss BVI Queen Pageant

Miss East End- Long Look

Miss East End - Long Look Queen Pageant

Miss Glamorous

Mobile Steel Orchestra

Mr. Personality

Parade

Prince and Princess Pageant

Prince and Princess Show

Queen Contestant Book

Queen Pageant

Queen Show

Rise-and-Shine Tramp

Road March

Ruby Anniversary

Sidewalk Troupe

Steel Band Music

Summer Extravaganza

Troupe

August Monday

August Tuesday Celebrations

August Wednesday Celebrations

Avocado tree

B Listings

Baking

Bananquit

Barracuda

Basin

Baughers Bay

Baughers Bay Community School

Beach

Beef Island International Airport

Bellamy Cay

Belle Vue

Belle Vue Methodist Chapel School

Belle Vue Mountain

Belle Vue Primary School

Benson & Hedges Knockout Tournament

Bethany Baptist Church

Bills of Rights

Birds

Bird Sanctuaries

Bits

Black Mangrove

Black Witch

Bluff

Board of Education

Boatbuilding

Boatbuilding and Sailing Legacies: A Glossary of Technical Terms

Adze

Anchor

Anchorage

Afloat

Arf

Ballast

Block

Block and Tackle

Boat

Boatbuilding

Boat Launching

Boat Race

Boom

Bow

Bowsplit

Bowsprit

Bunk

Cabin

Cabin Boy

Captain

Chart

Coaster

Coble

Coconut Boat

Colors

Compass

Cook

Corking

Corking Iron

Crossing

Fitting

Flying jib

Gallery Box

Grass boat

Helm

Halyard

Jib

Keel

Lead

Log boat

Mainsail

Mainsel

Mast

Mate

Painting

Plank

Planking

Oars

Open boat

Reef

Roundhouse

Rowboat

Rowing boat

Rudder

Running off

Sailing Sloop

Schooner

Seine boat

Seine net

Sloop

Spar

Steer

Tiller

Timber

Timbering

Vessel

Wheel

Windward

Boat Launching

Botanic Gardens

Botanic Society—Garden Club

Bottom

Bougainvillea Clinic

Boys Brigade

Brandenburg

Brandywine Bay

Bregado Flax Educational Center (BFEC)

Brewers Bay

Bricker

Brick Oven

British Virgin Islands Air Show

British Virgin Islands Amateur Softball Association (BVIASA)

British Virgin Islands Archipelago Territory

British Virgin Islands Boats

British Virgin Islands Boat Replicas

British Virgin Islands Botanic Society Flower Show

British Virgin Islands Charter Little League

British Virgin Islands Chess Federation (BVICF)

British Virgin Islands College—Ground Breaking

British Virgin Islands Community Band

British Virgin Islands Community College—Opening Ceremony

British Virgin Islands Community College–Paraquita Bay Campus

British Virgin Islands Community Singers

British Virgin Islands Cricket Association

British Virgin Islands Cultural Center

British Virgin Islands—Delegation to the 1966 Constitutional Conference

British Virgin Islands Football Association

British Virgin Islands High School (BVIHS)

British Virgin Islands High School Graduation

British Virgin Islands High School Valedictory Service

British Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourists Association

British Virgin Islands Kids and the Sea (KATS)

British Virgin Islands Lawn Tennis Association

British Virgin Islands National Parks Trust

British Virgin Islands Netball Association

British Virgin Islands Olympic Association (BVIOC)

British Virgin Islands Philatelic Bureau

British Virgin Islands Philatelic Exhibition

British Virgin Islands Philatelic Society

British Virgin Islanders Placed on National Stamps

British Virgin Islands Red Cross

British Virgin Islands Red Cross Headquarters

British Virgin Islands Report of the Constitutional Commissioners, 1993

British Virgin Islands Scout Association

British Virgin Islands Troop of Boy Scouts

British Virgin Islands Teachers Association/Union: Functioning and Some Achievements

British Virgin Islands Teachers Union Joined the World Confederation of the Organization of the Teaching Profession (WCOTP)

British West Indies Federation

Broken Jerusalem

Brown booby

Brown pelican

Buccaneers

Buck Island

Bull fight

Bush Tea

Button-wood

C Listings

Cabot, Sir Sebastian

Calabash tree

Cane Garden Bay

Cane Garden Bay Primary School

Cappoons Bay

Cappoons Bay Primary School

Captain Auguste George Airport

Caribs

Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)

Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA)

Caribbean Region

Caribbean Sea

CARICOM

Carrot Bay

Carter, President Jimmy

Carval

Cassava bread

Cattle egret

Central Administration Complex (CAC)

Central Administration Complex: Its Inauguration

Century Plant

Chalkney,