The Tourist Board of the Virgin Islands together with the Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum yesterday February 6, 2014 opened an exhibition featuring the works of VI writers and poets over the past decades. Photo: VINO

The collection of works included fiction and nonfiction, history and culture, biographies and memoirs, inspirational writings, books on health and wellness, reports and papers on various topics such as the environment and tourism in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO

A number of persons of note in the literary sphere in the Virgin Islands read some of their work at the opening ceremony. These included writer Ms Verna Penn Mall, Callaloo Poet Mr. Sowande Uhuru, writer Ms Andrea Flax and Playwright Ms Janice A. Stoutt. Photo: VINO

The exhibition, themed ‘In Our Own Words: An Exhibition of Virgin Islands Writing’, is taking place at the Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum, will be open until the end of the month of February.

Speaking at the launch of the exhibition while delivering the welcome address, Ms Sharon Flax-Mars, Director of Tourism at the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB), said it must be emphasized that the Virgin Islands is more than meets the eyes and that is indeed more than sun, sea and sand. “The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board is proud to be able to conceptualise, sponsor and make ‘In Our Own Words: An Exhibition of Virgin Islands Writings’ a reality,” she said.

Ms Flax-Mars said that as the Virgin Islands strives to enhance its cultural tourism product, it is amazing that there is so much rich culture that many people are not aware of and that many take for granted.

“Yes, every now and again we hear of writers and poets of British Virgin Islands origin…but there is more than meets the eyes and the British Virgin Islands has a literary culture to share with the world. This afternoon we pay tribute to writers and poets who have journeyed to the beyond and we also pay tribute to those who are with us. We pay tribute as well to would be writers and poets and encourage them to publish and recite their work,” she said.

“The written word is so important as it records our history and it also records the passage of time and the perceptions of the writer,” she said.

“We felt it was apropos during Black History Month to highlight the writers and to bring more focus and acclaim to the contributions of our history,” Flax-Mars said.

She said that the BVI Tourist Board is committed to showing that there is more to the BVI than sun, sand and sea. “Today’s traveler is looking for an experience. The millennial traveler wants to understand and embrace the culture of others. We have a responsibility to share our culture and we can do this through our museums, our historical site and now through events such as this,” she said.

Noting that writers and poets help to showcase, she said, “We encourage you to share the writings and poetry; we encourage you to tell others, we encourage you to share with our youth as they too need to understand and search the written word.”

Speaking at the event, Minister of Education and Culture the Honourable Myron V. Walwyn urged that writers write so as to preserve the history of the people of the Virgin Islands. “So that our children and grandchildren can one day be able to open or download a book and be transformed to the year that was 2014, 1985 or 1949,” said the Hon Minister.

Hon Walwyn also paid kudos to the Department of Education and the organisers of the exhibition for taking the initiative and making it a reality.

The collection of works included fiction and nonfiction, history and culture, biographies and memoirs, inspirational writings, books on health and wellness, reports and papers on various topics such as the environment and tourism in the Virgin Islands.

A number of persons of note in the literary sphere in the Virgin Islands read some of their work at the opening ceremony. These included writer Ms Verna Penn Mall, Callaloo Poet Mr. Sowande Uhuru, writer Ms Andrea Flax and Playwright Ms Janice A. Stoutt. The audience also observed a moment’s silence for recently departed cultural icon Roy A. Hodge.

According to the organisers, the exhibition will also feature writings, readings, panel discussions, author signings, digital displays, and school visits.