SEARCHLIGHT features heritage tourism videos for Independence anniversary

THIS MONTH, Vincentians are being taken on a trip back in time to eight communities around St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) as seen through video documentaries produced over 20 years ago.

To date, four of the videos have been published on the Youtube page of SEARCHLIGHT newspaper (https://www. youtube.com/channel/ UCBdj3-wcKGJXwmGjZd-BOFHw), and according to editor Clare Keizer, the videos have been well received by those who have seen them.

“Older persons are filled with nostalgia as we look back at a time when life was simpler and community spirit was strong.

Younger people who are seeing the videos for the first time are struck by the rich heritage of our country, much of which they were unaware,” Keizer said.

The ‘On the Heritage Trail’ video documentaries were filmed in 1997 and 1998 as the main community outreach programme of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (GOSVG) / Organization of American States Heritage Tourism Project.

The programme was designed to introduce the concept of heritage tourism to local communities and to expand the inventory of heritage resources held by the Heritage Tourism Project and the GOSVG.

Each visit took the format of a group of hosts introducing visitors from another part of the country to their community.

The visits served to establish bonds of friendship and allow Vincentians to see more of their country, and to develop greater levels of pride in our heritage resources. Each visit had an historical component, cultural performances, visits to craft persons, local food, music and visits to natural sites.

Keizer said the decision was taken to publish the videos on Youtube in celebration of the country’s 42nd anniversary of Independence and to ensure that the valuable historic resource was preserved and made accessible to as wide an audience as possible.

“Some of the people who are featured in the videos had never seen the series before, so this has come as a treat to them; a blast from the past, so to speak,” the editor said.

The eight videos were produced by the Heritage Tourism Project with support from the Community Development Division. They were directed by Vonnie Roudette and filmed and edited by Linmur Video Productions.

Already, the features on Greggs, Buccament, Bequia and Barrouallie have been published. Tonight, the feature on North Windward will be published at 7 p.m. and tomorrow evening, Union Island will be in the spotlight. Next weekend, North Leeward and South Windward will be featured.