President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College Dr Karl Dawson called on government agencies to increase their budgetary allocation for research and consultancy services using resource personnel from the territory’s lone tertiary institution. Photo: VINO

He said that the Virgin Islands Studies Institute within the HLSCC led by Dr Angel Smith aims to research and educate students and the wider community on historical and contemporary issues related to the social, political, economic and cultural life of Virgin Islanders and thus should be supported. Photo: VINO/File

Dr Dawson encouraged Government agencies to make the necessary budgetary provisions in the coming cycle. Photo: VINO/File

He was speaking on Friday January 29, 2016 during the launch of a book written by Jennie N. Wheatley and Eileene L. Persons - '150 Years of Achievement: 1834 – 1984’, a revision of a work first published around 1984.

The seminal work chronicled the rich history and culture of the territory through a collection of photographs, poems, songs and various other artefacts and memorabilia.

He said the Virgin Islands Studies Institute within the HLSCC led by Dr Angel Smith aims to research and educate students and the wider community on historical and contemporary issues related to the social, political, economic and cultural life of Virgin Islanders and thus should be supported.

“Faculty from the [HLSCC] are already proving to be key resources such as the BVI Tourist Board, the Taxi and Livery Commission and the Department of Culture, in addition to private establishments such as The Bitter End Yacht Club,” he said.

“I trust that the Government agencies in particular took note of the recent words of the Minister for Education and Culture [Hon Myron V. Walwyn] and that these consultancies ought to help to support the retaining of these dedicated individuals on the faculty and hence I encourage those agencies to make the necessary budgetary provisions in the coming cycle,” he said.

According to the HLSCC President, while the content of the book was left entirely up to the authors, the logistical support in typesetting, layout and publishing of the manuscript were done by the college.

He said several persons of the HLSCC team were involved but he singled out persons such as Bernardine Louis, Dean of Workforce Training, Mrs Janice Dawson who coordinated HLSCC’s involvement and Mr Junior ‘Mango’ Daniel who laid out the document for printing.