In celebration of V.I. History Month, St. Croix Farmers in Action invites the public to the “Cultural Jubilee” Sunday at the Estate Bethlehem Sugar Factory from 1 to 6 p.m.
The event is free of charge and, in addition to activities for adults and children, 10 people will be honored for their contributions to the community. Steel Pan music will be provided by St. Patrick Catholic School and Alfredo Andrews Elementary School’s student choir will perform. Additionally, Alfredo Andrews and Claude O. Markoe’s students will dance a quadrille.
Several students will recite poetry including Kemani Gonzalez, Sahara Bryan, and Sherina Turney from St. Croix Central High School and students from St. Croix Educational Complex will assist introducing the honorees. Local vendors will be on hand with food and drinks.
The FIA honorees are: Richard Schrader-author, Karen Thurland-historian author, Laurene Simonds Robles-educator, Thorvald “Chaoco” McIntosh-sports award founder, Wildred “Bomba” Allick, Jr.-sailor, musician, Andre McBean-refinery accountant and president of PUBVI, Asta Williams-masquerader director, Marilyn Christian-school crossing guard, Theodore “Teddy” Brow-businessman and Roy Rogers-agronomist.
“We just don’t take time to talk to our elders and appreciate what they have contributed,” Percival “Tahemah” Edwards, president of Farmers in Action, told the Source. “It was fitting we picked these names.”
During Sunday’s event, the honorees will be introduced to the audience and presented with handmade mahogany plaques made by McBean.
Farmers in Action was formed in 1998 and they leased the Estate Bethlehem property in 2002. The organization hosts the annual Crucian Coconut Festival in December, marking the beginning of the Christmas holiday season.
According to historian George Tyson, the history goes back to 1735 when Estate Bethlehem comprised 34 plantations under the king of Denmark. In 1903, the West India Sugar Factory was owned by Jacob Lachman, who upgraded the factory’s equipment. In 1922, there were 27 houses in the village and almost 500 acres of sugar cane. Under the U.S. government, the Virgin Islands Corporation was formed in 1934 on 4,719 acres with 12 villages.
In 1964 the land was turned over to Harvey Aluminum, the last sugar cane crop was harvested and the machines from the factory were sold to Venezuela.
In 1981, Harvey Aluminum sold the property to the V.I. government, which leased parcel 18-A, or 22,425 acres of land, to Farmers in Action in 2002.
The FIA board members include Edwards, president; Malcom Edwards, vice president; Kareem Edwards, Secretary; Rafael Llanos and George Moore, members and Paulette Edwards, treasurer.
