Virgin Islands Delegation Returning To Santiago de Cuba For Symposium On Caribbean Topics

ST. THOMAS — A delegation of Virgin Islanders will be traveling to Santiago de Cuba on January 9 to attend “The Joel James in Memoriam Contemporary Anti-Hegemonic Thinking” Symposium and make presentations on various topics related to the Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean, a press release the VI Genealogical Society issued late Tuesday makes known. The same delegation has been invited by the government of Santiago de Cuba to participate in Cuba’s 2016 Carnaval festivities.

The delegation will be led by Dr. Ronald E. Harrigan, retired University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) vice president and associate professor of educational leadership. Mr. Harrigan will present on “Migration and Genealogy: Tracing the Family Roots of Eastern Caribbean People Who Migrated to Cuba, Dominican Republic and Panama.”

Other members of the delegation include retired educator and herbalist, Larry Sewer, who will make a presentation on “Idenfication of Medicinal Plants and Herbs”, and Senator Myron D. Jackson, who will speak on “In Search of Identity: The Saga of a People From the Danish West Indies to the Virgin Islands of the United States.”

The fourth presenter in the delegation will be Virgin Islander Dr. Clement White,  professor of Spanish at the University of Rhode Island. Professor White will lecture on the “Life and Works of famous Cuban poet Nicolas Gullen.”

“We are very pleased to be invited by Casa Del Caribe to return to Santiago de Cuba, the Cultural Capital of Cuba, to continue sharing our Virgin Islands heritage with the people of Cuba. This is another step in our desire to establish a long and lasting cultural relationship between the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the people of Santiago de Cuba,” Mr. Harrigan said.  “Our participation in this Symposium comes at a time when the Obama administration is encouraging more cultural and educational ties between our two countries and we are proud to be part of this initiative.”

The Symposium is sponsored by Casa Del Caribe, a reknowned institute in Santiago de Cuba that sponsors academic seminars and cultural events, including the famous “Festival de Fuego.” The Symposium begins on January 10 and ends January 13.

About Casa Del Caribe

Casa Del Caribe invites researchers to these symposiums to make presentations on issues related to traditional popular culture, history, anthropology, sociology and other humanities where anti-hegemonic principles prevail. It also gives honor to contemporary anti-hegemonic thinking while recognizing Joel James, the founder of Casa Del Caribe and who was a senior contemporary researcher and humanist.

About Anti-Hegemonic Thinking

Anti-hegemonic means a philosophy or approach that is opposed to a single powerful force or regime (i.e., a hegemon) dominating the rules and outcomes of the system.

Feature Image: From top to bottom, left to right: Sen. Myron Jackson, Larry Sewer, Ron E. Harrigan and Clement White.

Image Credit: VI Genealogical Society.