St. Croix is preparing for its annual D. Hamilton Jackson Day celebration, a major event in the territory's political calendar that draws candidates and supporters each year.
The Grove Place Action Committee (GPAC) is organising the event at Estate Grove Place Park on Monday, November 2. Because the holiday falls on a Sunday this year, the observance has been moved to Monday, with Governor Albert Bryan Jr. announcing administrative leave for the day.
Jaynilah Williams, who recently took over as GPAC president from her cousin Raymond Williams, said the celebration will feature speeches, food, arts and crafts, and vendor stalls. Entry is free, and roast beef and bread will be distributed to attendees, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1915.
Local historian Percival "Tahemah" Edwards will deliver the keynote address. Entertainment will include live music from Superior Court's Rising Stars Steel Orchestra, Vio International, DJ Karl and Selecta Kuff, along with performances by the Sparkle Lite Twirlers and We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers. Children's activities will include games and bounce houses.
Food vendors selling local cuisine, beverages, toys and crafts are expected. Vendors must hold a valid Health Card and a certificate from the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Those interested can email [email protected] or call (340) 690-2761.
The committee is also recruiting volunteers, particularly high school students seeking community service hours. Jennell Petersen, GPAC's vice president, said help is needed to set up chairs, tents and manage other tasks.
D. Hamilton Jackson was a labour activist who travelled to Denmark in the early 1900s and successfully repealed a 1779 law banning independent newspapers. Upon returning to St. Croix, he published The Herald, the first free press publication in the then Danish West Indies, dedicated to championing workers' rights. The first copies were posted on trees in Estate Grove Place, and a bull was slaughtered and roasted to mark the occasion, establishing the tradition of communal beef and bread that continues today.
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