Dominica’s historian and social scientist Lennox Honychurch, the recipient of the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence (see post below), was profiled by Edward Lestrade in the Dominica Times to mark the award, which carries a stipend of $500,000 . Since I can’t think of anyone more worthy, I wanted to include the brief profile here.  In addition to his many accomplishments, Lennox is marked by an unparalleled generosity of spirit. Since I have been the beneficiary of this generosity—my biography of Phyllis Shand Allfrey could not have been written without his selfless input and commitment—I want to join in congratulating him on the receipt of this well-deserved award.

Here is Mr Lestrade’s profile:

Lennox was born in Dominica in 1952 and attended the St. Mary’s Academy secondary school. I attended the school with him and knew him then as one of the most popular, participative and studious members of the school.

Later on in life, Lennox won a scholarship to Oxford University and there he gained a D.Phil (Doctor of Philosophy) at the University’s  St. Hughes’ College. Thereafter, he could have gone anywhere in the world to further his career, but instead,  chose to return to his cherished island home country of Dominica, which he has served tirelessly and with great enthusiasm for all of his life thus far.

I met Lennox a few years ago in his birth town of Portsmouth where he was lecturing overseas student on the rich cultural heritage of Dominica. Then, his enthusiasm and eloquence in respect to all matters concerning Dominica were visible aspects of his delivery and had kept his audience practically spell-bound.

Lennox, in his acceptance speech, is quoted by DA Vibes newspaper as saying that instead of choosing to emigrate to more developed countries: “to wake at 6 am, in the cold, and then to take the subway in New York, or the Tube in London, to get to work”, Caribbean people should, like him, opt to stay at home to realise, as he has done, the potential of their islands.

 Lennox has authored many books, of which: ‘The Caribbean People’ is the most popular in the region.

For more go to http://dominicatimes.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/dominica-historian-and-social-scientist-dr-lennox-honeychurch-achieves-500000-award-for-excellence/

The Antigua Observer comments on the goals and highlights of the recent Nature Island Literary Festival (NILF) in Dominica:

The desire to create linkages among our literary artistes was one of the motivating factors driving the recently wrapped Nature Island Literary Festival (NILF) in Dominica. It made a conscious decision, as founder Alwyn Bully explained it, to be a space where primarily Caribbean artistes can come together and where the works of local and regional artistes can be showcased.

[. . .] The event attracted performances by literary elders like George Lamming, the celebrated Barbadian author of In the Castle of My Skin; distinguished Jamaican poet Mervyn Morris; and the Trinidadian born authors of Anna In-Between and Crick Crack, Monkey, Elizabeth Nunez and Merle Hodge, respectively. Newer voices such as Barbados’ Adrian Augier, Trinidad and Tobago’s Roger Bonair-Agard, Antigua and Barbuda’s Joanne C Hillhouse – author of Oh Gad! – and other works. [. . .] The opportunity, the setting, at the UWI Open Campus in Dominica, afforded for these writers to connect, and catch-up was invaluable.

The rain-drenched but never washed out NILF also featured heated discussions on the lyrics in bouyon music and the freedom of the press, a reminder that when it comes to contemporary social concerns sometimes these islands are more alike than they realise.

But, of course, at a literary festival it is all about the words and insights that come with them, as when Morris said, in one of his pieces, “the pain of death is living, the dead are free”; or when Green asserted, “art is a vehicle for programming the culture and behaviour of a people” – a reminder that art communicates with the community and vice versa; or when, in a single reading, Lamming illustrated the different rhythms of language.

It was an opportunity for new voices to emerge, step onto the stage at open mic and bravely engage the audience. It was an opportunity to showcase not only Caribbean perspectives but also perspectives on the Caribbean – a stand out in this regard being Lennox Honychurch’s review of literature mentioning Dominica by visiting writers going all the way back to the earliest days of Columbus’ so-called discovery of the islands and coming forward almost to the present day.

Photo—Lennox Honychurch, distinguished Dominican anthropologist and historian; Honorary Research Fellow of the University of the West Indies Open Campus in Dominica—from http://www.open.uwi.edu/adventures/facilitator

For full article, see http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=79640

Dr. Lennox Edward Honychurch, a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica, is renowned for his numerous publications. They include his seminal work, The Dominica Story: A History of the Island, the famous 1975 publication; the textbook volumes for Caribbean schools, The Caribbean People, first published in 1979; Our Island Culture, published in 1982; The Cabrits and Prince Rupert Bay, published in 1983; Caribbean Landmarks: Historic Events and Sites, published in 1986; Dominica: Isle of Adventure, published in 1991; Caribbean Camera: A Journey through the Islands, published in 1998; Historic Roseau: The Capital of Dominica, published in 2001; A History of Fort Young, published in 2008; and the Archaeology of Dominica, published in 2011. He was mainly responsible for the compilation of the exhibit information for The Dominica Museum in Roseau.

At 23, the age he become a senator in the House of Assembly at the invitation of then Leader of the Opposition Ms. Mary Eugenia Charles (who later became the Caribbean’s first female Prime Minister), he was the youngest parliamentarian in the Caribbean at the time. But Honychurch learnt very early on in life – and tragically – that small island politics involved personal sacrifice, sometimes literally so, when in 1981 his father was kidnapped and murdered by an armed gang of thugs who subsequently made demands on the then Dame Eugenia Charles government. His family home was also completely ruined by fire. Honychurch was at the time serving as Press Secretary to the Government of Dominica.

He has held several positions, including President, Dominica Conservation Association; Chairman of the Board, Dominica Broadcasting Service; Member of the Dominica Tourist Board; Member and Chairman, Dominica National Cultural Council; visiting lecturer in Dominican history, geography and culture to local schools since 1974; Director of Historic Restoration, Cabrits National Park; and Board Member, Museum Association of the Caribbean. He has been very closely associated with the University of the West Indies, whether as Staff Tutor (a post associated with the former School of Continuing Studies), or in an advisory capacity. 
 
An Honorary Research Fellow at the UWI, he makes himself available to the University whenever called upon to do so. Indeed he was the Open Campus’s first Distinguished Lecturer in its introductory and novel initiative, the sailing of the UWI Open Campus Scholar Ship, in 2011, dedicated to the culture, flora and fauna of the region. He was also the tour leader. He has as well worked with special interest cruises aboard the sailing vessel Sea Cloud and the Yorktown Clipper of Clipper Cruise Lines.

He directed the restoration of Fort Shirley at the Cabrits National Park Dominica; designed the layout of the Interpretation Centre of Betty’s Hope Plantation, Antigua; advised on restoration and layout of the visitor site at Fort Frederick, St. Georges, Grenada for the Canadian funded SPIF project; and designed the restoration programme for Fort Charlotte, Kingstown St. Vincent.

Dr. Lennox Honychurch holds the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Anthropology (1998) and the Master of Philosophy degree in Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, both from St. Hugh’s College, University of Oxford. For the MPhil, he was awarded a distinction and the St. Hugh’s College Examination Prize in 1995. In 1987, he was awarded the Sisserou medal for meritorious service to Dominica and in 2011, he won The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence.

Mr. Adrian Augier, an extraordinary blend of Visual Artist, Poet, Dramatist and Economist, is an esteemed contributor to the development of the arts in St Lucia and the region, and a highly respected economist and financial advisor.  He has served in many significant roles in St Lucia, including Chief Economist in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Executive Director of the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, and Economic Policy Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister. But perhaps the more fascinating side of Mr. Augier is the artistic one.

A founding member of the Lighthouse Theatre Company and The Factory Creative Arts Centre in St Lucia, he has had tremendous impact on arts and culture in both his homeland and abroad. Augier has earned the reputation of being a bold speaker, fearless in his defence of the arts, providing leadership and personal support for young artistes. His brainchild, the annual Word Alive festival of performance poetry, creates a platform for the exposure of young poets and international artistes of Caribbean extraction.

Augier’s talents as a designer and craftsman are displayed annually on the local carnival stage, but he is not limited to his homeland. He has also produced and directed large scale theatre productions including Navel String, a theatrical production which debuted in Senegal in December 2010, as part of the World Festival of Black Arts and Culture.  

 
His ties to the University of the West Indies run deep and he was one of the eminent Caribbean creative scholars and artists chosen to participate in the 2000-2003 Sir Phillip Sherlock Scholars and Artists programme under the former School of Continuing Studies, now a part of the UWI Open Campus.  Sherlock Scholars and Artists in Residence, like Mr. Augier, had the opportunity to pursue their own intellectual and creative work and to make specific intellectual and cultural contributions to community through workshops, seminars, lectures, discussions, exhibitions, or clinics. Mr. Augier was based in the British Virgin Islands during his time in the programme.

 
Augier is also known for his often acerbic poetry and incisive writing, and has published five collections of poetry, among other published articles and papers. In addition to his multiple awards in St Lucian Carnival over the past 30 years, Augier received the Minvielle and Chastanet Fine Arts Awards for Literary Arts (1980, 1981, 1991 and 1994) and for Visual Arts (1992). 
 
He also received the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce Award for Professional Service to Regional Private Sector Development (1992), the Caribbean Cacique Award for outstanding contribution to the development, integration and exploration of theatre in the region (2009) and the ANSA McAL Foundation Caribbean Award for Excellence (2010).

For the original report go to http://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/64056

One of the most contentious issues in the history of the Caribbean region will be back in the spotlight on Monday. Dr Lennox Honychurch of Dominica, an anthropologist and museologist, will address the question: Was the Federation of Caribbean states a viable option for the region, or was it just an unworkable ideal? in a public lecture at UWI’s Learning Resource Centre from 7 pm.

The occasion marks 50 years after the collapse of the federation. Honychurch is the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence 2011 laureate in public and civic contributions, and has made his life’s work writing Caribbean history, studying the region’s people, the environment, and its monuments.

This lecture will be the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence’s third annual lecture at UWI, St Augustine. The previous two lectures featured 2006 arts and letters laureate, filmmaker Robert Yao Ramesar, and 2008 laureate in science and technology James Husbands, solar energy entrepreneur of Barbados.

The lecture is free and open to the public. To find out more about the Caribbean Awards for Excellence, visit www.ansacaribbeanawards.com or find them on Facebook

For the original report go to http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-11-01/sabga-laureate-look-collapse-federation

Leading Caribbean historian Dr Lennox Honychurch has lamented the failure of regional politicians to forge Caribbean unity and has criticised what he describes as unhealthy drive towards materialism which he says is being copied from the United States—Trinidad’s Guardian reports.

Noting that only the UWI and the West Indies cricket team showed some semblance of regional unity, Honeychurch pointed to the lack of cohesiveness among Caribbean nationalities.

Honychurch, an Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence 2011 laureate in Arts and Letters, was speaking at a lecture on Monday, one of a series being delivered at UWI by Sabga laureates at the Learning Resource Centre at the University of the West Indies’ St Augustine Campus.

The Dominican is best known throughout the Caribbean for his three-volume series, The Caribbean People, which is used for “O” Level examinations. He said the crash of the Clico conglomerate, which saw thousands of depositors lose their life’s savings, was caused by a “blind and brutal form of materialism” and also gave some suggestions as to how Caribbean countries could become more self-sufficient.

Honychurch said agriculture had been neglected because of the painful legacy of slavery but warned food security would soon become a serious issue. Using solar and wind power in the Caribbean was a good idea, he added. Addressing the audience in the centre’s auditorium, which included Port-of-Spain Archbishop Fr Joseph Harris, Honychurch dedicated his lecture on “Fifty Years Since Federation and the Realities Ahead” to Trinidadian historian CLR James.

He traced several attempts by Caribbean leaders, as far back as the 18th century, to unite the West Indies, including the short-lived political union of the Federation of the West Indies from 1958 to 1962. Honychurch lamented how they all failed and left a yearning for Caribbean unity.

UWI principal Dr Clement Sankat said through the dissemination of the works of the Sabga laureates, the university had been given an opportunity to educate the public. He said Honychurch was one of 20 honourary UWI graduates in 2012. His lecture was timely and relevant to the university, which is regional, Sankat added.

Sharing his own thoughts on regional unity, he said: “We either swim together or sink separately.” The Sabga Awards are the English-speaking Caribbean’s leading recognition programme in arts, sciences, public and civic works. The awards, inaugurated in 2005, are fully funded by the ANSA McAL Foundation.

For the original report go to http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-11-07/sabga-laureate-laments-lack-unity-caribbean

This charming account of an environmental/history centered cruise around Dominica with Lennox Honychurch as a guide by Dr. Sam Christian appeared in theDominica.net.

I just came back from an amazing boat ride! Wish you were there! My trip was kindly arranged by my former Wesley High School student/Headgirl, Cora Richards and her most efficient friend in Forestry Division, Jacqueline Andre.

I’m rather indebted to them as, for whatever reason, I had not heard about it. Why did it make such an impact on me? Well, if you get a chance next year, you don’t want to miss because you will find out for yourself.

See James Arlington’s book on the Sea birds of Dominica.

I was torn between that and the continuing medical conference at Fort Young hotel today. Turned out to be an excellent choice since the free ride sponsored by Forestry happens only once a year. The experience could be easily priced at $100 at the very least.

For those not too familiar with Dominica, the transition from the calm Caribbean Sea to the very rough the Atlantic Ocean south of the island was most dramatic. What a roller coaster! We all got splashed and that was a lot of fun.

From the capital Roseau, we went on a fabulous Anchorage Hotel catamaran all the way round to Grandbay to the remote, desolate Pointe des Foux, (the point of land of ‘mad people’) where huge numbers of the endemic sea birds nest. (see the map in the PDF attachment).

We passed the narrow Scott’s Head isthmus where June and the boys had experienced the different kinds of waters on our previous visit home. We passed the picturesque Souffriere church; the Champaigne dive sites where the volcanic geothermal underwater vents give snorkelers and divers a unique bubbly experience in the crystal clear aquamarine matrix.

We were entertained by a school (or a pod? we argued that) of playful dolphins and witnessed a number of turtles, none mating though, like they saw on previous trips.

Dr. Lennox Honeychurch gave a historical and geological perspective of different landmarks. Among them he mentioned Solomon, the landslide that killed a magistrate in the1920′s. This of course, gave rise to the iconic carnival song,Solomon roulay; si nou mort nou mort nanay sala!

He pointed out the spot where pre-Columbian Kalinago men threw their unfaithful wives over a cliff (the men themselves could be as unfaithful as they wanted). Needless to say, this sparked an animated debate among the passengers which the captain wisely settled the matter by interjecting, “If there’s any tossing done today, it would have to be by the women!”

Furthermore, the event was characterized by exceptional customer service and professionalism. The environmentalist ethic was at the level imaginable. Besides the strong local turn-out, (129 in all, lots of kids and youth) there were several visitors including a Phd candidate from Indianapolis teaching a semester on biodiversity at the State College.

A young man from the London zoo working on a project to save the crapaud (Dominica’s large edible national ‘Mountain Chicken’ frogs) from extinction and students from the Carolinas (Clemson) doing research on Veo (our edible river snails) at the Springfield consortium of American universities tropical research center which has a relationship with the DAAS, Dominica Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Their biology professor is a limnologist, expert in fresh water lakes and rivers – had never heard the term before; probably our environmentalist Hilo and others have.

Well, like so many of the kids, I got to be captain for a moment; a bearded Lennox stands behind me in the attached photo. The video gives a feel of how seriously windy and choppy it got once we got to the Atlantic side. You know me, I couldn’t resist getting on the intercom and expressing my heartfelt appreciation to Forestry, Lennox and Anchorage for all their good work and reminding all to continue doing their part for the upcoming World Ocean Day on June 8th: theoceanproject.org/worldoceansday

Best of all, an insightful powerpoint presentation was made by my former Dominica Grammar School prefect Arlington James, who was so kind to forward me his presentation within hours of of docking. What a guy! By the way, the link disappears in 30 days so may I suggest downloading it now for future reference. You’ll be blown away by what you will learn.

Even though you may not be into birds, you will definitely come across environmentally-minded nature-lovers who would go ga-ga about this info and be motivated to come pay us a visit. This stuff is priceless and we need all the help we can get. The file is ‘heavy’ and is be best sent via the free YouSendit file delivery service (through the kink below). I’ve attached it anyway in the standard fashion.

For the original report go to http://www.thedominican.net/2013/05/sea-birds-of-dominica.html

Caribbean historian Dominican Dr. Lennox Honychurch is pointing out the inequity between appointed senators and elected members of parliament and the problem this could pose for legislatures in the Eastern Caribbean. He also expressed doubt that the Caribbean will ever “come together” because of individualism, in spite of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) push towards an agenda focusing on regional integration.

“For the most parts, except for these things like votes of no confidence and changing the constitutions in certain respects, the nominated members have the same power in parliament as the nominated members. Now this may not be considered to be fair,” Dr. Honeychurch said. He argued that elected members have the stress of dealing with constituencies while nominated members do not and still have the same powers as elected members.

Dr. Honeychurch, a guest on WINN FM’s Voices programme on Wednesday commended the provision in the St. Kitts Nevis constitution that bars appointed members from voting on a motion of no confidence. Since the motion of no confidence was filed in the government in December 2012, opposition politicians have been very critical of the senators who they say have been given more powers and privileges than elected members by the prime minister. Mr. Honeychurch is not hopeful that the status quo regarding appointed members of parliament in relation to elected members will ever change.

[. . .] While the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) pushes the agenda of regional integration, noted Caribbean historian Dr. Honychurch from Dominica is not that optimistic that this will materialize: “The Caribbean will never come together because of this individualism,” he said. “That is why I have given up on CARICOM; yes let them have their meetings, let them have their big bureaucracy down there in Guyana, but really nothing is going to happen with them. I put more faith in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States but I do not see a political union,” he added.

But as the region continues to struggle to integrate, Honeychurch spoke of another challenge affecting the region: brain drain — the movement of professionals from the Caribbean to more developed economies.

For full article and video of Honychurch’s speech, go to http://www.winnfm.com/news/local/7123-dr-honeychurch-points-out-inequity-in-caribbean-parliaments

A new book by local historian, Dr. Lennox Honychurch which tells the story of the Maroons of Dominica, has been described as a vital treasure since very little has been done to honor the memory of the island’s African ancestors, Dominica News Online reports.

“Negre Mawon: The Fighting Maroons of Dominica” was launched at the Baracun Building in Roseau on Thursday evening and former chief cultural officer, Raymond Lawrence said it helps honor the memories of the African ancestors.

“It helps to salute the vital contributions which they made to our freedom and emancipation in Dominica,” he said.

Lawrence noted that up until recently very little had been done to honor the African ancestors.

“So we still need to do more to recognize this very significant part of our African heritage,” he noted. “We do have a mountain which was named in memory of the Negre Mawon, we have a Morne Negre Mawon, and on the first of August last year, as part of our Emancipation celebrations, we unveiled a Negre Mawon emancipation monument located close to the Peebles Park. This monument is dedicated to the memory of our African ancestors, especially our Negre Mawon.”

He pointed out that a play, directed by Alex Bruno and named Negre Mawon, was also presented to honor the memory of the ancestors.

He said Dr. Honychurch’s book expounds the history of the Dominica’s Negre Mawon.

“The circumstance and the events and the experiences which all unfolded to tell a story of capture, suffering, pain, degradation, survival, struggle, resistance and triumph,” he noted.

Meanwhile Dr. Honychurch said the Negre Mawon had a ‘big impact’ on the island and they have “really changed the whole pattern of Dominica.”

He said the presence of the Maroons in the interior putting pressure on the plantations “meant that Dominica changed.”

“Dominican society is different because of that,” he noted.

The book was dedicated to Dr. Honychurch’s father, Ted Honychurch.

For the original report go to http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/culture/historians-new-book-described-vital-treasure/

From St Kitts and Nevis’ WINN. Follow the link below to listen to the report.

Despite their emergence from a colonial past, heritage resources can today be successfully used for education, recreation and tourism. That assurance is coming from historian and anthropologist Dr Lennox Honychurch. Dr Honychurch spoke to the issue during a recent lecture at the UWI Open Campus in Basseterre. According to Dr Honychurch, heritage resources help tell the story of the resilience of Caribbean people. Meanwhile, Larry Armony of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society says he is becoming increasingly concerned that regional states are glorifying pirates who roamed the Caribbean in the colonial past. Armony says it bothers him that piracy is seen as an attractive topic. The Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

For the original report go to http://www.winnfm.com/news/local/12595-honeychurch-use-heritage-resources-for-education-tourism-recreation

CARICOM TODAY presents an informative, short film entitled Dominica–An Island Reborn.

In September 2017, Dominica was ravaged by the Category 5 strength of Hurricane Maria, leaving many to wonder what’s next for the Nature Island. But according to Dominican historian Lennox Honychurch, this has happened in the past, and each time the country has bounced back.

See the video at http://today.caricom.org/2018/02/18/dominica-an-island-reborn/ or http://www.caribbean360.com/news/dominica-island-reborn#ixzz57cDNbqdM

[Photo from http://www.caribbean360.com/news/dominica-island-reborn#ixzz57cDNbqdM.]