Former Chief Education Officer, Dr. Angel Smith has returned to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture and will lend his expertise in researching and documenting Virgin Islands’ history.

Permanent Secretary Mrs. Carolyn Stoutt Igwe said that she is pleased to welcome back Dr. Smith to the ministry in this capacity as there is a need to properly document the Territory's history.

Mrs. Stoutt Igwe said, “Given Dr. Smith's knowledge, experience and access to information when he studied in the United Kingdom, I believe that this research project will be greatly beneficial to the Territory.”

“I am appealing for the cooperation of persons who would need to be interviewed as well as those persons who might be in possession of information that can assist this project to contact Dr. Smith," the Permanent Secretary added.

The research project titled “The Social, Political and Economic Development of the Virgin Islands in the Twentieth Century” is aimed at attaining a holistic understanding of the development of the Virgin Islands in the twentieth century. The objectives of this research are to:

1. Collect and analyse documents related to the economic, social and political development of the Virgin Islands during the twentieth century;
2. Interview and document the testimonies of individuals reflecting on their lives and experiences related to key development in the Virgin Islands during the twentieth century;
3. Chronicle the development of Virgin Islands in the twentieth century and compile profiles of key individuals who made major contributions to the process.

Dr. Smith has an extensive educational background, having served as teacher, Guidance Officer and Education Officer. He was granted study leave in 2007 to pursue studies in Social History Research in the United Kingdom. Upon his return to the Territory in 2012, Dr. Smith was seconded to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College as the Director of the Virgin Islands Studies Institute.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture will continue to foster conversations around who we are as Virgin Islanders with the mission of educating all who come to our shores and call here home.