Union Island Heritage Day Celebrated

Following yet another successful Heritage Day 2010, the Union Island Museum & Ecological Society Inc. believes that it is making steady progress towards achieving its fundamental goal, which is to heighten the level of interest amongst all residents of Union Island, particularly the younger generations, of the history and cultural heritage of that Grenadine Island.

Heritage Day 2010 was staged on Friday 28th May. The all-day event attracted hundreds of students from the two primary schools and scores of adults who converged on the Ashton Sports Complex for what has been described as a memorable event.

Students, accompanied by their teachers, got a lesson on the use of many items of yesteryear.  Patrons also got the opportunity to view a number of locally written historical and cultural publications, and of local political figures and community activists.

However, the feature of this year’s activities was a display of Union Island-made products and, an oral presentation of a series of historical accounts entitled, ‘The Making of Union Island’.

Foods were cooked, using the three-stone wood fire method, and patrons were treated to a variety of traditionally prepared cuisines such as wangoo and ochro, rice and peas, stew mutton, chicken and pork and, bun bun tea.  Also on display were the coarse salt picked from the Belmont Salt Pond, chilli bibi and a variety of products made from sea moss harvested in the Ashton Harbour.

The Stephanie Browne Primary School (SBPS) took a clean sweep of the Heritage Day Schools’ Competitions 2010, defeating the Mary Hutchinson Primary School (MHPS) in both the Spelling Bee and General Knowledge Quiz Competitions.

Having won the inaugural General Knowledge competition last year, the SBPS successfully defended the title and retained the GECCU Challenge Shield. First place went to Jeremiah Augustus of the MHPS, with the second and third place winners going to Beres Alexander and Bernica Nanton of the SBPS.

The Mary Hutchinson Primary School, winners of the inaugural Spelling Bee Competition held last year, however, were unsuccessful in their attempt to retain the championship trophy, as they lost narrowly to the Stephanie Browne Primary School. The first and second place winners went to Oscar Hutchinson and Candi Turtin respectively of the SBPS with the MHPS’ Franklyn Williams in third position. This year’s Spelling Bee Competition was sponsored by Lewis Pharmacy in Kingstown.

Source of article:
The Vincentian
by Steve Stewart
06/10/2010
www.thevincentian.com