The launch of the series of Tales of Sandy Ground, with the first book on Boat Men, by popular Teacher, Avenella Griffth, has given a new and plausible revitalistion to the cultural history of Anguilla.
What is more is that it was heavily sponsored by the Ministry and Department of Education, the Anguilla Tourist Board and Belmond Cap Juluca, all ensuring that the colourful and informative book gets into the hands of our children and our tourists.
The book was publicly launched on Wednesday evening, June 2, at the Corner at Sandy Ground, the heart of the coastal village, well known for its historic cultural gatherings for residents including boat men.
The official launch was at Rebel Marine Boatyard, at the North Hill, owned by Mr. David Carty, whose boat-building skills are a particular feature of the book. The publication also features Mr. Garfield Richardson of North Hill, owner of the Gotcha ferry boats.
Belmond Cap Juluca
The setting at Rebel Marine was laid out in a very attractive and informative manner. The ceremony, chaired by Ms. Griffith’s daughter, Avern, included music and singing by a number of young people who were taught by Ms. Griffith at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School; an abundance of refreshments; and a comprehensive guided tour of Rebel Marine Boatyard by Ms. Griffiths’ brother, Andre, an employee of the company.
Many copies of the book, displayed at Mr. Carty’s museum, were purchased by a number of persons. Among those who delivered addresses were Mr. David Carty; the Minister of Education, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers; Chief Education Officer, Mr. Brent Romney; Principal of the Comprehensive School, Mrs. Rita Celestine-Carty, who gave a brief review of the book in addition to that given by Ms. Maris Edwards on Tuesday evening at Sandy Ground; Director of Tourism, Ms. Stacey Liburd; and Ms. Gudine Green of Belmond Cap Juluca.
In his address, Mr. Carty said that Anguilla’s heritage of the sea and boats needed to be continued. He stated that it should not be relegated to the forefathers who were great sailors and shipwrights of a different age. “We should bring it into the 21st century with different types of boats, different ways of building them, but still providing a service,” he advised.
In commending the author the book, Mr. Carty stated: “What is important is Avenella’s desire, as a teacher of excellence, to share that story [about boats and men] with our children. The story of Anguilla is a long and interesting one. It is much more that the Revolution…Anguilla has had a very unique history that has been so different from all the rest of the other islands; and it is primarily because of our poverty at that time which created a desperate need for boats.”
Minister Kentish-Rogers said, among other matters: “We see this book as an opportunity to lend to our historical literature – and to one that our young people can continue to feel a sense of identity to.” She added: “Each opportunity and each piece of literature produced by local Anguillian authors is not just for education but for tourism. This is because what people fall in love with when they come to Anguilla isn’t just our pretty beaches. It is our people and the stories that make up who we are as Anguillians.”
Mr. Brent Romney said that with Ms. Griffith’s knowledge of Sandy Ground, she was the only person who could have written the book. “She is a veteran educator…but Ms. Griffith is a different type of educator… and she is also a visionary,” he went on, in congratulating her for her first book in the series, Tales of Sandy Ground.
Ms. Griffith, who spoke about her historical writing commitment, was grateful to all for their support and kind words of encouragement.
