By Anastasha Elliott
St. Kitts and Nevis were last week exposed to the first ever History and Heritage Week.
The aim of the week according to Larry Armony, one of the organisers, was to educate the Federation about its history and heritage.
He said, “if you don’t know your history you don’t know who you are. Your sense of self is displaced. You can lose self and country.”
Armony a member of the St. Kitts Heritage Society explained that the idea for the week came out of one of the counsels meetings.
The counsel he explained is made up of volunteers who are entrusted to manage Brimstone Hill.
He said the counsel felt that there is a lack of knowledge and information, and that people do not know much pertaining to the history and heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Armony also said that the counsel also realised that the school’s syllabus did not teach about the history and heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“And although they teach about Caribbean history in school, many do not relate it to St. Kitts and Nevis.”
A student can graduate with a distinction in history and not know anything about the history and heritage of the Federation Armony said.
Many he added don’t know the important icons around the islands.
“So we decided to change this. We decided that we had to do something,” said Armony.
Hence the decision was made to hold a week of activities which Armony said would be done annual throughout the third week of February.
The week was geared towards the education of the whole Federation about its history.
However the organising committee was unable to involve the participation of the sister isle due to circumstances beyond their control.
Armony described the week as a national effort and voiced the hope that next year Nevis will be able to join in the activities.
Several activities were planned for the week, including WINN FM’s ‘Kiki and the kids’ visit to the National Museum.
A discussion under the theme ‘History and Heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis’ was also held.
Eight students representing four primary schools on St. Kitts competed in a ‘Know Your Country’ quiz, while Elroy ‘Sports’ Browne was awarded for his outstanding contribution to the Federations intangible cultural heritage.
A lecture was also held at the University Center at The Gardens. George Tyson, a distinguished scholar from the US Virgin Islands spoke on the topic ‘Kittitians and Nevisians St. Croix; Historical and Cultural Connections’.
A heritage food fair was held at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College while Brimstone Hill was opened to the public on Saturday February 25 and Sunday February 26.
The week concluded with a round table discussion aired on ZIZ Television and Radio on Monday February 27.
The topic discussed was “The History and Heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis: Challenges and Opportunities”.
Armony in an interview spoke of one aspect to the week which it is hoped would be added next year.
He explained that in organising any activity a lot of work and co-ordination is done.
Next year he said the organisers would like to have persons from each community visit a heritage site in an area/community, be treated to a guided tour and then be educated about it.
He voiced the hope that church groups, clubs and other community groups would get onboard with the initiative.
