USVI-On-Line

I was having a look at Frank Barnako's site today and saw mention of the Gifft Hill School Gala and Auction. It linked me over to Bob Schlesinger's photos of the event. They didn't seem all that interesting to me, but then I was struck by something that I found extremely interesting.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tropicalfo ... 299826982/

These were photos of an event on a Caribbean island, a fundraiser for one of the schools on the island, yet there were almost no West Indians present. They could have been taken at some event in Maine. Well, there was a lot of tropical clothing, so it might have been some Hawaiian themed event.

We've seen a lot of change on STJ. But today I realized that I really haven't grasped how far along some of the change is. I've been very aware that the West Indian population and culture has become increasingly peripheral, replaced by a kind of island lifestyle developed by transplants from the mainland (or "continentals"). Most businesses patronized by tourists are owned and staffed by short- or long-term transplants. It's quite possible for a tourist to spend a week on STJ without having any dealings with West Indians. The island has been becoming increasingly Americanized and gentrified. This has been going on for years. I guess I just hadn't realized how far its gone.

I started looking around for other photos. Bob Schlesinger photographed the 8 Tuff Miles extensively. I also took a look at the galleries at Skinny's and Woody's:

http://www.skinnylegs.com/PhotoPage.html

http://www.woodysseafood.com/st_john_gallery/photo.htm

It would have been easy to believe these photos were taken at some beach vacation spot on the mainland rather than in the Caribbean. When we first started traveling to the Caribbean part of the attraction for us was exploring a different culture. There certainly are still plenty of islands that remain fundamentally West Indian and where local people still are in control of their island. STJ has changed significantly. Some people who enjoy STJ as it is today really wouldn't have liked it 25-30 years ago. And some people who fell in love with the island back then are deeply saddened by many of the changes and by what's been lost. But as sad as it is for me, I really can't imagine what it's been like for the West Indian population. It's a different island today and attracts a different kind of tourist. For years it was the only place we had any desire to go, but now we haven't been back for a while. Our last Caribbean trip was to Virgin Gorda, which we really enjoyed. We've always thought we'd like to get back to STJ one last time, but as I spent time looking at these photos and what they signify, I'm less sure. I hadn't really realized what it is now.

I had seen those photos of the fund raiser also... over $150,000.00 were raised for the Gifft Hill School.

Have you seen this year's video made by Steve Simonsen about the school?

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20976201" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/20976201">"Everyday"</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/tropicallightpro">Steve Simonsen</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

AMEN !! very observant and amazingly truthful -- and the future looks even more Americanized - but it is what US $$$$ wants and rules.

One of the thrills when we were on island in December was attending the STJ "Dancing with the Stars" which includes the students from STJ and one STT schools! It included the whole diversity of the islands both in the competitors and the audience. It was an honor to be able to attend.

And our own PIA was one of the lovely judges!

Although you are 100% right about this event, I am compelled to point out that it raises money for the financial aid that certainly benefits the black west indian community--a large percentage of Gifft Hill's student body, especially in the upper school receive scholarships, but their parents may be unable to afford the tickets to the auction, or feel uncomfortable attending. I feel uncomfortable attending, and I don't recognize more half the people in those photos.
On the brighter side, two big events last month were totally integrated and totally positive: The Broadway on St. John performance-- by the two public schools and Gifft Hill together-- and the Relay for Life.
The process of destroying St John Culture began about 1950, and almost everyone who is really from here had a lot to deal with for a long, long time...

Hugo, just a question, not trying to spark debate but I am curious based on your feeling uncomfortable going to an event like that.

It would seem that those that attended had money to donate, based on the total raised.
Would you prefer an event where the majority of attendees were island residents were in attendance with a presumably lower donation level or one with some "snowbirds" (I am assuming) with more money to donate?

I know that when I lived on island, I would participate in as many events as I could, but my participation was my main donation, and not money. I didn't have any