Oct. 13, 2008 — The Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican Friendship Celebration Committee decided to do something different this year and honor communities instead of individuals or families.
Heavy rains in the area played havoc with events scheduled Sunday, and the Village at the Agriculture Fair Grounds had to close down, but the recognition ceremonies at Grove Place and Estate Profit Monday went off without a hitch.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. led the dedication. Delegate Donna M. Christensen also attended the ceremonies.
"It was a great idea to honor communities this year," she said. "Communities sometimes have challenges and don't get positive recognition. There are many communities and families working hard with little money dedicated to making things happen."
Stone monuments were dedicated to the communities and the members who have brought progress to those communities. The inscription read, "The Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican Friendship Committee 2008 recognizes the Estate Profit Action Committee 'Machuchal' for truly working for the betterment of this community." Claudio Enterprises donated the monument.
Estate Profit was 99 percent Hispanic in the 1960s and still remains mostly so, Pedro Cruz noted. Back then the roads were dirt and most of the homes were little more than corrugated shacks, he said.
Standing in the Flamboyant Restaurant, where most of the dignitaries gathered after the dedication of the monument across the street, Cruz said the neighborhood now has paved roads, many nice homes and a community center. An active partnership between community members and the government made the difference, he said.
Cruz headed the Estate Profit Committee until 1992, when Eddie Ortiz took over.
The dedication at Grove Place took place at 11 a.m. Monday, followed by the ceremony in Estate Profit was at 1 p.m. Ray Williams, whose mother, Inez Williams, was one of the founding members of the Grove Place Action Committee, was one of several members of the Grove Place Committee who made it to the second dedication. His father was responsible for the legislation in 1964 that helped create Friendship Day, Williams said.
"This shows a strong sense of community involvement," deJongh said. "Changes on St. Croix will come from these strong communities."
Sammuel Sanes, a senatorial candidate, said it is great seeing people he grew up with trying to promote unity on St. Croix.
The celebration will continue Saturday at Limpricht Park in Christiansted with an arroz con pollo cooking contest, a fundraiser for the Hispanic collection at the Florence Williams Public Library, Zoraida Jacobs said. To register, call her at 773-1095, ext. 7045.
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