Historic wooden sloop tossed in garbage, never to return!
College interim President Dr Janet B. Smith confirmed our story when last week she told selective members of the press that indeed the sloop Vigilant was lost in clear up efforts. She blamed Dr Angel Smith who has been appointed by College Board Chairman Dr Charles H. Wheatley, to head the college recovery and clean-up efforts, and he reports to Wheatley’s select committee which Dr Janet B. Smith also sits on.
Because the new assignment is a full time job that involves clean-ups, repairs, and oversight of construction works, Dr Angel Smith has temporally relinquished his post as Director of the Virgin Islands (VI) Studies Institute. Dr Katherine Smith, the daughter of Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), has been named the Acting Director of the VI Studies Programme.
Politics over love for history
Two college sources familiar with the issue told our newsroom that Dr Angel Smith informed the committee about his plans to clean up the area at the Applied Marine Science where the sloop was for months in ruins following Hurricane Irma of September 6, 2017.
However, no one at the time raised the issue of trying to secure and salvage what was left of the wooden boat, which, if you believe the history, was built in 1882 by a William Penn of East End on Tortola.
A host of people appear to be upset over the never to return boat; however, Governments (both NDP & VIP) over the years have done zero to restore it, or even properly fund the college or culture in the Territory in general.
Many critics have told our newsroom that this matter is more like “crocodile tears” and they never hear the same outrage when monies were requested from 2014 to restore the Vigilant, but is was never granted. One Board Member told our newsroom, “Where were those same Vigilant sympathisers and overnight lovers of our history and the outrage when the minister took over a million dollars and wasted it on a wall while I had to sit in Board meetings after meetings hearing about we can’t pay our staff, and no money for this and that programme? For God’s sake…”
If the aim is to get at Angel then “they going lose that fight,” the Board Member said with laughter, as “he [Angel] reports to the Chairman and not to Janet.”
College gone backwards
It is unclear if anything will be done to secure the other historical artifacts at the college. Over the years, the higher education institution’s development has declined and has been filled with confusion and cut backs in many areas, along with an exodus of local faculty members. The heart of the challenge has been a lack of adequate funding from central Government.
Notwithstanding, for sure the Vigilant, the historical wooden boat, is gone forever as debate on what happened continues in a small circle at the institution founded in 1990. Dr Angel Smith, when reached by our newsroom yesterday, April 7, 2018, declined to comment.
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41 Responses to “Historic wooden sloop tossed in garbage, never to return!”
Are you lonely there?
Old or not she is an excellent as well as a highly educated person. What, may I ask is your contribution to the country, not to mention your level of education?
Everywhere !
As much as we hate to admitted whites are not the only people that rewrite history everybody does it when it suits them. I doubt Mr Smith is to be blame for this really. And I doubt the powers that rule the college and the land are losing any sleep about this.
Well there has been cases where valuable museum pieces have disappeared and resurfaced many years later for a hefty price.
My father who was Owen’s son and once her captain passed three years ago. Sadly this history too is lost.
What is Mr Brooks working on since the hurricane. If the boat could have been salvaged why he wait until it was disposed to realize it's value? The boat is over 100 yrs old or the name has been around for over 100 yrs? Just wondering
The self hatred demonstrated by many is detrimental to VI cultural history and its preservation.
Actions speak louder than words .This incident is proof positive as it was committed by someone who talks but cannot fully walk the walk.
Irma and Maria had their way. Much to do about nothing!!!