CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - WHAT began simply as a tradition of a group of friends spending quality time together on holiday days, resulted in a mural of the late Dr. the Rt. Hon. Sir Simeon Daniel, the Federation’s fourth National Hero, being painted across a large surface in his hometown in Nevis.
Over the past week, the old dam in Barnes Ghaut was spruced up at the behest of a group of young men and it now acts as a reminder of the man who was responsible for placing Nevis on a path towards modernization, the first Premier of Nevis, Dr. Daniel.
One of the group’s members Patrick Daniel, who is also the nephew of Dr. Daniel, explained to SKNVibes that the concept was birthed while the group was tossing around ideas about ways to spend National Heroes’ Day and the wheels of their minds began to churn.
“It is something that we have been tossing up for some time but we never got around to it. So we met one day and were discussing what we would do for the holiday. We were planning a hike… but then someone asked why not finish the dam, because the roof we placed on it sometime ago was sort of wobbly… Then someone asked “why not put a mural on it” and some names were being suggested of who the mural should be of. The question was asked why not Mr. Daniel?”
He said the group gravitated to the idea and not soon thereafter, painter Vaughan Anslyn was contacted and the process had begun.
Beginning his work on Friday (Sept. 11), Anslyn reportedly completed the mural by Monday (Sept. 14).
A scroll forms part of the mural which, SKNVibes understand it is for the writing of names of individuals who have excelled, bringing recognition to the Barns Ghaut community.
The dam once supplied water to the Barnes Ghaut and surrounding areas, it next functioned as a bus stop by which school children would gather before taking the bus to school. It now serves as a colourful and vivid reminder of Simeon Daniel’s contribution to nation building.
Patrick Daniel told SKNVibes the idea has been well-received by the public.
“The response to this has been tremendous. I never thought something so simple would catch on soo quickly and gather such a huge response…”
Son of the Right Excellent Sir Simeon Daniel, Deon Daniel, expressed his feelings about to activity which immortalized his father.
“More can be done to let our younger generation know about the father of modern day Nevis. So I am quite pleased and happy to see the people of Barnes Ghaut, which is the birth place of Dr. Daniel, have decided to step up and install that mural of Dr. Daniel."
Other members of the group are Tafari Ayinde, Michael ‘Mikey’ Letang, Lyle Williams, Willford Hamilton and Livingstone Liburd.
