V.I. Cultural History Jubilee Honors Local Trailblazers

In celebration of Virgin Islands History Month, the St. Croix Farmers in Action hosted the V.I. Cultural History Jubilee, a free community event Sunday at Estate Bethlehem. The afternoon was dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Virgin Islanders whose impact on the community is often overlooked.

“As part of Virgin Islands History Month, the St. Croix Farmers in Action thought it was a good idea to take a moment to celebrate the contributions of Virgin Islanders – individuals many may not be aware of – who have significantly shaped our community today,” said event coordinator Nadia Bougouneau.

The event honored Wilfred ‘Bomba’ Allick Jr., Theodore ‘Teddy’ Brow, Marilyn Christian, Andre McBean, Thorvald ‘Choco’ McIntosh, Richard Schrader, Laurene Simmonds Robles, Roy Rogers, Karen Thurland, and Asta Williams.

A summary of each honoree’s contributions was read before they were presented with a beautiful mahogany plaque in recognition of their efforts.

Akua Ducard, communications director for St. Croix Farmers in Action, shared the dedication behind the event. “We hashed through so many different ideas and challenges. We wanted to make sure the space was prepared, and quite a bit of effort went into making today a beautiful day – and it truly was. We’re so proud of how it turned out. It was amazing,” she said.

Bougouneau emphasized the importance of including students in the event. “Our intention was to involve the students so they could learn more about those who came before them and what they did to shape our community. We also wanted them to participate and celebrate their own talents,” she said.