The collection
of Virgin Islands sea shells exhibited by noted malacologist Rowan Roy
was a major highlightof the event. Mr. Roy is pictured here at right
while he answers visitors' questions
[Island Sun photo by Warren Alexander]
Millennium Committee Hosts Exhibition On Science, Technology & The Cultural Environment
The Millennium Committee continued its series of exhibitions in October with a focus on Science, Technology and the Cultural Environment. The exhibition opened at the West Atrium of the Central Administration Complex on Thursday October 27th and ran for two days. On Monday 30th, the exhibition travelled to Anegada, on Tuesday 31st to Virgin Gorda and Wednesday November 1st to Jost Van Dyke.
Mr. Rowan Roy's collection of Virgin Islands shells, as well as the entries from all the communities which make up present day Virgin Islands society, were exhibited. There were displays from the HLS Community College and UNESCO's National Commission, posters on science and technology, Dominica Hails, international art and craft, Virgin Islands Technology and entries from West Africa, Canada and America. Speaking at the opening, Millennium Committee member Mrs. Josephine Callwood noted that there is much talk about keeping up with the advancements in technology, preserving our culture and especially in the field of education, about empowering our youths to face the new millennium. She said the Committee continues to work hard to fulfill its mandate in this regard.
Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal commended Coordinator Ms. Ermin Penn and her Committee for their insistence and consistency. "They have been putting on exhibitions now each month of the year and even though at times it might appear as if there's not much interest in it, yet Ms. Penn and her committee still go on...and they have not given up." He suggested that in years to come, there may be more appreciation for the wonderful work the Committee is doing now. Referring to the theme of the October exhibition, Chief Minister O'Neal noted that the BVI was likened unto "the back of the woods" and therefore our people had to improvise and use the limited skills they had. He mentioned some of the old time methods used in the BVI, such as burning charcoal and installing a hand pump to pump water from the cistern to a tank on the roof and noted how changes have evolved with time. He also spoke of how sturdy houses were built in the olden days and other chemical processes - the production of pitch for boats and the churning of cream into butter.
"So, there were processes that we used and we developed as time went on and that has helped to shape our lives," Hon. O'Neal stated. "In our struggle for existence, our parents used the skills that they had...and used their head ad managed to produce things." He reiterated his commendation to the Millennium Committee for bringing those things alive, so that we can appreciate where we came from and where we are going. "We are part of the global village now and as we develop the information age and dot.coms and the Internet...we have our foundation in science and technology from what our forefathers did and what was handed down to us." Chief Minister O'Neal said he hoped that at the end of the series, a booklet will be produced documenting what used to be done and how it was done. He said this would help us immensely to shape the future.
In declaring the exhibition open, Minister of Natural Resources and Labour Hon. Julian Fraser joined in congratulating the Millennium Committee for their efforts. He said what seems to be a lack of interest is merely the cost of commitment. "Your commitment to the environment and what seems to be people's lack of knowledge of what's going on, does not mean that you should be deterred in any which way.
"I am very grateful to you for bringing this to the forefront for the people in the BVI - the environment and the necessity for us preserving it."