On Monday, 11th August, 2025, the UWI Global Campus was the stage for a landmark moment in the cultural and intellectual life of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the official handover of Volume I of the History of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Native Genocide and African Enslavement to 1838 and the unveiling of The Last Battle by celebrated artist Sir Calvert Jones.
Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture, the evening combined scholarship, art, performance, and national reflection.
In remarks from Hon. Carlos James, Esq. James, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture, the Minister spoke to the importance of the Emancipation Month of activities not simply being “for reflection but also a time of awakening.”
In his feature address, Prime Minister Gonsalves delivered a powerful presentation titled “Our Vincentian Civilisation: Retrospect and Prospect”, situating the history of the nation within the broader arc of Caribbean civilisation and the struggles of its peoples.
The event’s intellectual centrepiece was a roundtable discussion featuring four distinguished Vincentian historians: Dr. Adrian Fraser, Dr. Arnold Thomas, Dr. Cleve Scott, and Dr. Garrey Dennie, alongside the Prime Minister. Their dialogue explored the newly published volume’s themes of indigenous resistance, African resilience, and the reclamation of historical truth.
One of the most moving moments came with the unveiling of The Last Battle: Joseph Chatoyer’s Final Stand, a monumental work that blends Sir Calvert Jones’ artistry with historical research by Dr. Désha Osborne. The painting challenges colonial narratives, asserting through visual and oral history that Chatoyer died not in a gentleman’s duel but in courageous defiance against overwhelming British forces.
The evening was enriched by cultural performances from the Renaissance Dance Company, Rose Hall Drummers, and a stirring rendition of Perseverance by Utamu Rose, 2025 Ragga Soca Monarch.
The historic event was “a defining chapter in the telling of our own story”, and the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to preserving and promoting Vincentian heritage.
The ceremony closed with a formal handover of Volume I to the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Honourable Ralph E. Gonsalves - a gift of knowledge and identity for current and future generations.
SOURCE: Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture
