“From The Field to the Legislature - A History of Women in the Virgin Islands” is the newest resource on the market for book lovers and researchers needing information from the British Virgin Islands. The book was launched at a ceremony held at The Moorings on Tuesday May 15th. Several Government and Opposition Members of the 14th Legislative Council attended the launching, as well as many friends and family members.
The author is one of the most prolific writers in the Virgin Islands - Ms. Eugenia O’Neal. She was Head of the Women’s Desk when it was established 9 years ago and is now Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Welfare. “Ms. O’Neal has taken a step in a direction that no one else has traversed,” according to chairperson Elise Donovan. “She has dedicated her life over the last decade championing the cause of and documenting the role of women…she has been the loudest and strongest voice speaking out against domestic violence and child abuse etc…”
Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal was on hand to offer congratulations to Ms. O’Neal. “I am pleased to see Eugenia has produced such a work…it is very interesting and I would encourage all to read it.” Chief Minister O’Neal referred to other writings by Virgin Islands women, including Hon. Eileene Parsons and Mrs. Jennie Wheatley and said he hoped more people would be willing to come forward and write. “It is by writing and recording what’s done by others that those to come will get an idea of what people like Dr. Lettsome passed through in this country.”
Hon. Parsons described “From the Field to the Legislature” as a chronicling of the “upward one-day-at-a-time struggle of women as they moved from tilling the soil to the briefcase and pen arrival in the halls of the Legislature”. She said Eugenia has joined a growing list of people, mostly women, who have taken the time to record the past and present and have their thoughts printed. Among those persons recognized by Ms. Parsons are Norwell Harrigan, Verna Penn-Moll, Vernon Pickering, Dr. Janet Smith, Hugo Vanterpool, Marilyn Jennings-Frett, Sandra Phillip Hodge and Esmerelda O’Neal. “I would like to humbly recommend that ‘From the Field to the Legislature’ be made required reading in the education system,” the At-Large Representative suggested. She expressed disappointment that no one from the Department or Ministry of Education and Culture was present at the launching. “I would honestly recommend this book as a must read for every BVIslander.”
The author read excerpts of the book before making two special presentations of a copy of the book to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the Public Library. She used the opportunity to express gratitude to her many supporters, publishers Greenwood, the British Development Division for funding her studies and to At Large Representative Hon. Ronnie Skelton, who has pledged in writing to contribute to her future endeavours. Dr. John Wright is Dean of Academic Affairs and Coordinator of the Human Services Programme at the HLSCC. In accepting the gift, he pointed out that Ms. O’Neal has been a tremendous resource as a guest lecturer in this programme.
Acting Chief Librarian at the Public Library Mrs. Suzanne Greenaway expressed her thanks for the gift as well. She pledged that all branches of the library would soon carry a copy of the book for use by all. The book “From the Field to the Legislature - A History of Women in the Virgin Islands” can be ordered on the Internet from www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
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