USVI Public Records

Document text

An ironic shower of rain began to fall as Dr. Henry Smith stepped up to the podium. Dr. Smith, UVI’s vice provost for research and public service and director of the Water Re- sources Research Institute, gave the keynote address on the theme “Water: Source of Food Security,” at the World Food Day events on October 20 at the University of the Vir- gin Islands St. Croix campus. He noted that the global de- mand for fresh water will in- crease by 50 percent in 20 years. Water, Smith said, di- rectly affects food production. “It is more precious than oil, for it has no substitute.” In her remarks, UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster said that the theme is especially important for the territory because water is a major limiting source for us. “Food security is not a minor thing when we are sitting on four small islands in the middle of the Caribbean in the Atlantic.” St. Croix Chancellor Jennifer Jackson said that the World Food Day activities were “another occasion that symbolizes the University’s commitment to this community.” She stressed that everyone has a role to play in securing our food supply. “We must do our part to make sure that no one in the Virgin Islands goes hungry,” Jackson said. With food, drinks and other goodies on sale, no one should have left the event hungry. Sev- eral food vendors sold every- thing from shish kabob to sour sop juice. Also on sale were local jams and preserves, pastry and candy. Farmers also sold fresh produce. And to in- crease food security, more than 6,000 tomato, cucumber and hot pepper seedlings were given out to attendees. The event was festive, with members of the community sampling food, attending work- shops and socializing. World Food Day was sponsored by UVI’s Cooperative extension Service in partnership with the Agricultural Experiment Sta- tion.
   Oct. 31 Crisis in Paradise Forum, STT Nov. 2 PR Symphony Orchestra, STT Nov. 11 Excursion to Virgin Gorda, STT Nov. 15-16, 22-24 Little Theater Play, STT Nov. 17-20 NASA Awareness Days, STT, STX Nov. 22-30 Paradise Jam Tournament, STT Nov. 23-24 Agriculture Fair, STT Water is Key at World Food Day Events October 29, 2002 vol. viii, number 10
 UVI The monthly newsletter of The University of the Virgin Islands With a general election in the Virgin Islands scheduled for November 5, UVI’s Student Activities Offices, in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Election System, held voter registrations on both campuses. A demonstration of the voting machine was held on the St. Croix campus. Coming Soon: Elections! Photo by Clint Ferris Some of the various items on sale at World Food Day, held on October 20 on UVI’s St. Croix campus. Shown are two of the three featured crops - hot peppers and citrus. The other fea- tured crop was poultry.   
 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 The Taste of Friendship held on October 14 on UVI’s St. Thomas campus was a flavorful event that featured food from different nations and brought together students with various cultural backgrounds. The Taste of Friendship is part of the Student Government Association’s “Celebration of Diversity and Common Heritage” that was designed to promote under- standing and respect of individual diversity. Numerous Caribbean nations were represented through national dishes and table displays. Featured were akee and saltfish, jerk chicken, and cassava bammi from the Jamaican Association; potato pudding, broccoli casserole and Johnny cakes from the British Virgin Islands Association and jaw- bone breakers from the St. Kitts/Nevis Association. Students representing the U.S. Virgin Islands served red grout with cream and gooseberry ice cream. A UVI staff member rep- The University of the Virgin Islands’ Research and Pub- lic Service (RPS) Recognition Award Ceremony was held on September 20 at the Annual RPS Retreat. This award is given to RPS employees for quality and excellence in performance that goes above and beyond what is expected. The winners were Toni Thomas of the Cooperative Ex- tension Service, Christy Loomis of the Eastern Caribbean Center’s Conservation Data Center and Mary Joe Williams of the Small Business Development Center. Other nominees for the 2002 Recognition Award were the aquaculture program and Dr. Robert Godfrey of the Agri- cultural Experiment Station, and Clarice Clarke and Christine Henry of the Cooperative Extension Service. UVI Students Share Food and Culture resenting the southern United States served “sleeping cows” and smothered hot dogs. UVI students, staff, faculty and administrators along with community members milled about sampling food and groov- ing to pumping Caribbean music that was being played. Dorothy Elskoe, a local tradition bearer, demonstrated the preparation of pick up saltfish and jawbone candy. The event also included a choreographed dance presen- tation of Celia Cruz’s “Carnaval” and a Capoeira (an African Brazilian martial arts and dance form) demonstration. The next event in the diversity and heritage celebration is planned for January 2003. Outstanding RPS Employees Recognized   
 is a production of the UVI Public Relations Office. Contact us by telephone at (340) 693-1056 FAX: (340) 693-1055 A member of UVI’s British Virgin Is- lands Association prepares a Johnny cake for frying at the “Taste of Friendship held on October 14 on the St. Thomas campus. The Johnny cakes were fried tra- ditionally on a coal pot. Students, staff, faculty and commu- nity members came out to enjoy the event. GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu