Dr. Lettsome insulted by Hon. Walwyn’s “Dr. Scholls shoe box” statement
Dr. Lettsome said his work could not be compared to the recently launched book on financial services by Ms Ayana Hull, even if it was indeed delivered to him (Minister) in a shoe box, and accused Hon. Walwyn of attacking his reputation.
Firing back at critics of the $85,000 contract Government awarded to Ayana Hull to produce the textbook, 'Financial Services Demystified' that will be heading to public schools for this 2012/2013 school year, Hon. Walwyn, speaking in the House of Assembly on October 9, 2012 made a comparison to a $100,000 contract under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government in 2008 to produce a manuscript which he said was delivered to him when he took office in a Dr. Scholls shoe box.
"Not a book, manuscripts on the history of certain things in the country...Pieces of loose paper, writing down saying this is my research in 2008. An 18 months project at $5,000 per month...Do your little math and that's about $90,000, it done pass the book [Financial Services] long time," Hon. Walwyn said.
The Minister, who did not mention the producer of the manuscript in question, also said there were expenses of travel and meals that took the cost to produce the manuscript even further.
"Add up all of that; it's somewhere in the region of $110,00 to $115,000 for manuscripts, Madam Speaker...And the manuscripts came to me as Minister in a Dr. Scholls shoe box; you know how many years I have not seen a Dr. Scholls shoe box. I was frightened when it came to me...An 18-month project delivered four years later on an $110,000 contract and we want to go and chastise people who work hard and produce this book [on financial services]," he argued.
Dr. Lettsome takes issue with Hon. Walwyn’s remarks
But according to Dr. Lettsome, someone had approached him about the remarks made by Hon. Walwyn in the HOA, which he felt was “nonsense” and an insult to him.
“I know I wrote a book for Government for $90, 000 but I had to do a lot of research on the issue of education in the Virgin Islands. I turned in that manuscript in October [2011] last year. My history went way back before Methodism and came right up to the current century...I don’t think my book is only for the [Secondary] schools but also can be used at the college and university level and still be used in the schools. My book is a much more intense comprehension than hers [Hull’s] I guarantee you that. I don’t know if she has qualifications in Financial Services as she is a lawyer...My book has about three hundred odd pages. I did hear somebody say that nonsense (Hon. Walwyn’s comments). That is completely false,” Dr. Lettsome told Virgin Islands News Online.
Dr. Lettsome said his work took him three years to complete during which time he was required to travel out of the region, including to the United Kingdom where he went to the University of London to do research in the Wesleyan Archives. “I guarantee you my book is two or three times the size of hers.”
The popular writer said his completed work was delivered as a hard copy and also as an electronic copy to the Ministry of Education and Culture. “The electronic copy is there in case you want to make any checks and the hard copy is there for you to see what you are paying for. So that is a kind of foolish thing...and I am known all over the world as a writer. People call from England, America, Jamaica, all over as a writer. I don’t know why he [Minister] would charge these types of aspersions for... I am very annoyed to be hearing this kind of nonsense.”
“I don’t understand that...maybe they put it in a shoe box and that was the best way to secure it, I don’t know, but I know I handed it in to the Ministry [of Education and Culture] and he (Hon. Walwyn) should look to see what is there to make sure it makes sense...I am going to have to take him up on that...I heard somebody make that remark to me but I said no that book has over three hundred pages...This is foolishness...you cannot try and degrade what people do unless you go through it...regardless of what it came to him in, it came to you secure, that is the important thing...so I think that he is trying to degrade me but I am known all over the world for my work...I am going to have to ask the clerk [of the House of Assembly] for the minutes of that.”
Dr. Lettsome also said he believed it was time that the manuscripts were published. “Seeing that it is a new Government that went in and they had other things to deal with you give them a chance to deal with it but now I think it is time they should deal with it....because my research is second to none....It is the most intense research on education in the Virgin Islands and I challenge any man to better that. I have done the most intense research on education in this Territory. I have done it at my Undergraduate level, at my Masters level and at my PhD level.”
Hon. Walwyn did say, however, that he did not wish to make anyone feel bad but he was just trying to make the point that it was expensive to produce a book.
"I wonder sometimes if some of us suffer from amnesia because we would say things when we know we have done the same thing, but perhaps those things that people would have enough sense to bring it up. So I want to make a contrast and I am not trying to make anyone feel bad, but if you know that it is expensive to produce a book, do not let people believe that you didn't get value for money with the book. It's wrong," Hon. Walwyn said.
Efforts to reach the Minister for further comment were unsuccessful.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
73 Responses to “Dr. Lettsome insulted by Hon. Walwyn’s “Dr. Scholls shoe box” statement”
SMH !!!!
Ms. Hull did a good job and her book could stand on her own without having to insult and be libelous in the House on people’s reputation. Learn to love your own people they ae both B V Islanders.
NDP and VIP doing what they want with taxpayers money and trying to justify it by blaming the other side.
The when we speak out, they're getting upset and want to shut down the media and close blogs... jeez um bread we in trouble in the BVI…
We should look at the purpose behind the publishing of both books and not who wrote them. After all they are locals…. We purchase many books written by others and frankly speaking many of them are not suitable but we purchased them and either the politicians or people dose not say a word!!!!
Finally the Minister's point stands. It is expensive to produce a book. Hull's cost less, we also get 1,000 copies and it WILL be used in classrooms!
man our place of laws aint no place for joke and games deman I know tis one sweet meh but have respect for dey people dem from always in dey house playin & jokin
Both books are a great step in the educational system as we need to know our history and about one of the major industry. We will not get any better unless we cultivate better elected officials in this country which will set the tone for better citizens.
Dr. Lettsome is a bonafide writer, world-renowned for thorough research and eloquent expression. Are you really that ignorant to talk about "bunch of long preambles, wasted words and old colonialist jargon?" Is this how unimportant literacy has become in the BVI? Out of touch with the current world? Ability to communicate is what sets the knowledge industry apart from the servant industry in this or any time. Best you pick up some of Dr. Lettsome's works and read them to educate yourself about slavery, how and why it happened and continued for as along as it did. About how our ancestors struggled to attain literacy in this land and how it led to their eventual emancipation.
As for the Minister, he should do the same. I am all for the Financial Services book and find it to be a good value for money, but I also think he should be sued for the aspersions cast upon Dr. Lettsome's professional conduct and reputation.
You colonialist thinkers believe that the bigger the words used, means the smarter you are. Let's see how many 3 or 4-syllabled words we can squeeze in! LOL
I did not discredit Dr Lettsome nor his writings. I simply said that in this age, it would be less effective than a book that is more to the point. The length of a book does not determine its quality.
My final point still stands.
And Mr. Lettsome is the one that made it seem like the length of a book determines its quality or effectiveness. That was the basis of my point.
So instead of using his office to Unity the people he dividing the country while the expats and whites laughing at we. Mr. Myron you made me shame and I even doubt the wisdom of my own vote for you.
I see nothing wrong with Ayana Hull’s Book for she is a very brilliant and intelligent young lady and she works hard and has proved herself to be capable of writing a book.
Mr. Lettsome has made well over 40 plus years of contribution to education even before Myron was born...just leave the politics out o these things ppl
How can Myron give her rights to her own book j@(k@$$? THE BOOK IS HERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You guys need to learn to read. The Government ordered 1000 of her books for $85,000 which works out to $85.00 per book. What bull$h!t are you talking about giving her copyright? The book is her property, she wrote it, she started it long before NDP got into power. You all don't seem to be capable of reading and comprehending simple English.
What I am cooncerned about is the fact that Financial Services have just about completed a document which covers the functions of that Authority. Work on this document was started before a contract was signed with this lady to produce a book. One has to wonder if the Minister acted in ignorance of this work which was in progress at the time. I think not. What is intresting is, Financial Services product does not have a cost element where as the latter carries a price tag of $85,000 dollars. Also, the present book appears to be focused more on the laws which govern the industry rather than on the workings of the Authority. I trust that Financial Srevices will take this into account as the latter would be more benificial to those with an interest in the industry.
Myron would be well advised to pay a little more attention to the need for Fiscal Responsibility rather than Posturing.
not surprise he seems to delight in belittling our own local people...dats why he has a JAMDOWN PS.