Sept. 14, 2007 — Government House in Christiansted was a house of the people Thursday evening, where the music was loud and local and the talk friendly.
In a reception kicking off the Cultural Heritage Tourism Conference, it appeared that the whole of the islands' diverse cultures were represented.
The catering provided by Top Class Catering included pates, johnnycake, carambola, salmon balls and salt fish. The drink of choice appeared to be Cruzan Rum.
More than 200 were estimated to have come through the doors off King Street, and security guards said it was the most well-attended events they had ever seen.
Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. was on hand, mixing and mingling with other Virgin Islanders.
Many followed the suggestion to wear cultural clothing. Women wore shirts and skirts of yellow, orange, red and green madras, traditional white African dress and many men donned Latin guayabera shirts.
The entertainment for the evening was the 10-member, St. Croix Educational Complex Quelbe Ambassadors, under the direction of Valrica Bryson, who was chosen teacher of the year in 2007.
"If we don't pass on the culture of the islands to the children it will die," said Bryson, she went on to say "They are my life." The band has played at Government House on several occasions. Also performing were the Complex Quadrille Dancers.
"This is an incredibly interesting mix of people, which represents the cultural diversity of the Virgin Islands," said St. Thomas resident Dennis Parker, member of the board of directors of the V.I. Humanities Council.
Also seen at the reception was a coming together of organizations.
"The collaboration of the Humanities Council and the tourism sector is great," said Brad Nugent, assistant commissioner of tourism. "I really like what Mabel Maduro has put together," said Nugent.
Maduro is executive director of the V.I. Humanities Council,
"This evening showed a good cross-section of the community that bodes well for a good conference, which is great for St. Croix," said Paul Chakroff, the new executive director of St. Croix Environmental Association. Chakroff will be leading a workshop Saturday at the conference on economic impact and accountability.
The conference's goal is to assist the local community in realizing the economic benefits of preserving and promoting culture and heritage through tourism, organizers say.
On Friday at Carambola Resort, the conference begins in earnest. DeJongh will offer introductory remarks.
The vice president and publisher of National Geographic Traveler magazine, Dawn Drew, will give the keynote address beginning at 10 a.m. Carol Henneman, executive director of the V.I. Board of Education, will conduct an education and training workshop.
Also at that time, Edward La Borde of Cutting Edge Entertainment will hold a media roundtable discussion. At 3:30 p.m., Percival Edwards, community activist and historian, will lead a tour of Estate Bethlehem. At the same time, Wayne James, designer and historian will conduct a tour of Frederiksted. The evening's entertainment will begin at 10 p.m. at St. Gerard's Hall in Frederiksted with a "hard time" quadrille dance.
Other events including workshops will continue on Saturday, starting with continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The conference will conclude with a tour of Christiansted at 4 p.m. (See Cultural Heritage Tourism Conference Set for Mid-September"for full details.)
Admission to the conference is free and open to the general public. For more information, call the Humanities Council at 776-4044.
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