All the places in VI named after 'murderers & thieves’- Cromwell Smith
Mr Smith, during the Thursday, January 9, 2020, edition of his show, was having an overall discussion on culture with guest Ken Boynes, when he touched on the topic, calling for something to be done about the historic names, pointing out that they do not project a good image to youths.
“All the places that we have is named after these murderers and thieves," Smith told the listening audience.
His comments came after his guest expressed displeasure over the names, “we talk about young people and what we expect from them… but look at our historical places in the BVI... Blackburn highway etc… these men were pirates, there’s nothing good about a pirate,” Mr Boynes uttered.
It should be noted that the highway is actually named Blackburn Highway.
The US National Park Service (NPS) says the history of the VI is deeply rooted in piracy and privateering and is just one of many significant chapters in the story of the Caribbean; however, Mr Smith said it is a negative influence.
'Names telling youths its ok to be thugs' - Smith
Mr Smith further noted that authorities need to change all the names and pointed out that such names are only telling the youths that it is ok to be a pirate and a thug.
"You might get a harbour named after you, [or] a whole sea,' Boynes uttered.
One such pirate that traversed the area was Sir Francis Drake who passed through the islands in 1595 in yet another raid on the hated Spaniard.
He mustered a fleet of some 24 ships in Virgin Gorda’s North Sound in a location now called Drake’s Anchorage and sailed down the channel between Tortola and the southern cays that now bears his name.
Norman Island, home of Pirates Bight Bar is most famous for being the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Treasure Island. Named after a pirate, Norman Island also has a rich documented history of acting as a hiding spot for Pirate booty.
Pirate Flag culture
Continuing on the conversation on air, it was also highlighted on Umoja that there is still a culture of flying pirate flags on buses and cars in the VI, "In America, it is illegal to fly a Nazi flag," Mr Boynes said.
Smith added, "I don't know whether its legal or not, but those things that [are] not uplifting in their community they don't permit, so why should we permit it here?" Cromwell questioned.
Both Mr Smith and his guest called for a starting point in history to preserve cultural values in the Virgin Islands, rather than documenting bad remnants of the past.
According to NPS, the known list of pirates that were operating in the islands is long. A few notable ones include Captain Kidd, Jean Hamlin, Stede Bonnet, Tempest Rogers, Bartholomew Sharp, and Black Sam Bellamy.
Specifically in the Virgin Islands, places like Jost van Dyke and Thatch, are just a few other locations in the territory that is named after well-known pirates.
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45 Responses to “All the places in VI named after 'murderers & thieves’- Cromwell Smith”
Why is he embarrassed to use the name his parents gave him?
The man craves publicity and makes statements full of stupidness and foolishness just to get his name in the press.
Just because he changed his name, he now wants to other names to be changed.
Please go away Cromwell - nobody cares!
Before u bash a man seek knowledge before vengeance
Fill your head bfo opening yuh mouth!!!!
Every single one of these historical places should be named after a slave of the same period, as we we continue to identify them.
Yo ho ho and a big a$$ spliff.
I am curious. Only know Blackburn highway
Willie T i( William Thornton)s a perfect example.
Deliberate disrespect to the VI and it's population of slave descendants. Not all humanlike forms are fully human. This is what I have come to understand.
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These surnames ,lcontinued as surnames of some," indigenous" British and US VIslanders. You,re welcome.
We can certainly do better than that.
A story,a fib is HIS STORY
The world would be cool different,a better place if truth was taught in schools.
May the best thief win.
The British passed the Abolition Slave Trade Act of 1807 followed by the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, and which paved the way for the Emancipation Proclamation of 1834 to the enslaved in the Virgin Islands.
We need those names to help the generations to remember the past and the knowledge of the signs to look for leading up to pending doom (hint...hint or a take over).
It only takes one generation to forget history - 30 to 40 years and that is why global and ancient history are essential in schools. I had that privilege in high school and college coupled with that received from preachers and religious teachers over the years that put the puzzle all together. Of course my curiosity led me to do more research and I was able to unravel the deception heavily influenced by the city that sits on 7 hills in Rome. We are all awoke now.
The words of George Santayana, a writer and philosopher, influenced this variation of his quote:
"Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it"
Another variation is "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it."
It is reported that its original form it read, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/george-santayana-quotes
Truth b told we jus want to be told we don’t want to study and edify
Jus like story of jesus he jus as a good a Santa clause
That right there is tuff to swallow vino might even post this comment becah of tha statement