分类： society

A compelling academic movement is gaining momentum across the Caribbean as distinguished scholars advocate for mandatory history education throughout the region’s school systems. The push comes amid concerns that generations are graduating without fundamental knowledge of their historical identity and struggles.

During the official launch of “St. Vincent and the Grenadines – A General History to the Year 2025, Volume One” at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus, historian Henderson Carter delivered a powerful address emphasizing history’s critical role in national development. The newly presented volume, authored by Vincentian scholars Cleve Scott, Garrey Dennie, and Adrian Fraser, provides an indigenous perspective on Caribbean history, covering topics from native civilizations and European conquest to slavery, resistance movements, and reparatory justice.

Carter articulated that history serves as the foundation for understanding collective identity, direction, and potential. He expressed alarm that students can complete secondary, community college, and even university education without substantive engagement with historical studies, potentially creating leaders unaware of foundational doctrines like the Monroe Doctrine and its impact on regional politics.

The academic highlighted concerning societal trends, including disengagement from democratic processes and rising crime rates, which he attributes to historical illiteracy. Carter specifically referenced voting patterns, noting that while only 3,500 people voted in 1935, approximately 95,000 participated in the 1951 elections following intense struggles for black voting rights. This historical context, he argued, remains unknown to many contemporary citizens who disregard their hard-won democratic privileges.

Supporting Carter’s position, Rodney Worrell, Head of the Department of History, Philosophy and Psychology at UWI Cave Hill, emphasized that proper historical understanding would provide crucial context for current geopolitical developments. He pointed to recent resource disputes involving Venezuela as continuations of historical patterns of external intervention in Caribbean affairs.

Worrell praised the Vincentian authors for addressing the historical neglect of Eastern Caribbean narratives, particularly compared to the more frequently documented histories of Jamaica and Trinidad. The new volume represents a significant contribution to Caribbean historiography by utilizing indigenous perspectives and previously overlooked sources, focusing on native peoples, genocide, and African enslavement from BP 5000 to 1838.

The consensus among scholars is clear: integrating comprehensive history education across all academic levels is essential for fostering informed citizenship, national pride, and sustainable development throughout the Caribbean region.

In a world grappling with escalating inequality, where countless families face impossible choices between dignity and survival, the critical question has shifted from whether assistance is necessary to identifying those willing to take meaningful action. Vulnerability seldom announces its arrival—it emerges abruptly, silently, and without warning.

For over a decade, a visionary nonprofit established by Cherry-Ann Pompey-Delpeche has consistently bridged this gap, prioritizing compassion over convenience and choosing decisive action over passive indifference. What originated as modest gestures of kindness has matured into a sustained movement dedicated to ensuring no child, family, or community remains overlooked.

“For the past 13 years, our organization has served as a beacon of hope and tangible support for vulnerable families throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” states Pompey-Delpeche.

Since its founding, the charity has extended vital assistance to more than 400 families, distributing essential resources including clothing for all ages, neonatal and adult diapers, bedding sets, footwear, nutritional supplies, sports equipment, educational materials, books, children’s scooters, and toys.

“Our mission is fundamentally rooted in both compassion and advocacy,” Pompey-Delpeche explains. She recounts how a simple concept shared with her sister—sending supplies to individuals in need—blossomed into a robust charitable enterprise.

Leveraging her professional background in social work and current practice as a counselor, advocacy for vulnerable populations became an organic and crucial dimension of their efforts. Strategic long-term partnerships, particularly with AGAPE UK–SVG, have significantly amplified the organization’s reach and effectiveness.

Her counseling practice has exposed the profound and frequently unaddressed needs within local communities, reinforcing the necessity of addressing both psychological well-being and practical burdens through concrete support. The charity consequently provides holistic assistance that targets immediate requirements while fostering long-term stability.

Key initiatives include the “Pack-a-Bag per Child” program, which delivers school bags stocked with essential educational supplies to students. This effort, supported by associates both locally and internationally, has benefited approximately 150 children. Additional contributions have included customized t-shirts for boys’ development programs across multiple schools.

During catastrophic events such as the volcanic eruption and Hurricane Beryl, the organization secured and distributed critical aid from Canadian sources, AGAPE UK–SVG, and personal contacts in England. This support provided essential relief to families and shelters during their most challenging periods, with many recipients continuing to express profound gratitude.

Beyond emergency response, the charity maintains its commitment to community elevation through ongoing projects. Recent distributions include specialized sports gear—football boots, goalkeeper gloves, and shin guards—to the Glenside Ball Blazers FC in Marriaqua and the Richland Park Government Schools Football Team. Educational books were donated to Evesham Methodist School, alongside toys for behavioral modification reward programs encouraging positive student development.

The organization also identified economically disadvantaged parents, providing crucial newborn supplies such as diapers and infant clothing. The distribution of scooters to children generated particularly memorable moments of pure joy, described by Pompey-Delpeche as “truly indescribable and deeply heart-warming.”

This spirit of giving was especially evident during the 2025 Christmas season and into January 2026, as children received gifts and supplies. Their emotional responses—beaming smiles, heartfelt hugs, and sincere appreciation—served as powerful affirmations of the initiative’s importance.

As the organization marks its 13th anniversary, Pompey-Delpeche expresses profound gratitude to partners, supporters, and the families who continually inspire their work. “This charity was born from genuine community love,” she reflects, “and it endures through collaboration, compassion, and our collective belief that together we can drive meaningful change.”

She concludes with a powerful conviction: “Supporting vulnerable populations transcends mere charity—it represents an act of justice, humanity, and moral responsibility. When we give, we provide more than material aid; we restore hope, dignity, and faith in achievable futures. Every distributed bag, every clothed child, every supported family reaffirms that transformative change begins when ordinary people choose to care. Our work isn’t about recognition—it’s about transformation. And as long as need exists, our mission remains unequivocal: to serve, to uplift, and to remind the world that compassion retains the power to change everything.”