Date: 1991-02-27
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. I am proud to join my distinguished colleague from Ohio. and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus in this special order in honor of Black History Month. I want to commend Mr. STOKES for calling this special order and Mr. TowNs. the chairman of the Black Caucus. for their many years of bold leadership on issues of concern to AfricanAmericans and all minorities in the United States. We in the U.S. Virgin Islands join enthusiastically in observing Black History Month. For us it is a major opportunity to celebrate the primary culture of our islands. where the vast maJority of our people are black West Indians. We are proud of our distinctive heritage as West Indians and Americans. And we are determined to create for ourselves a distinctive future. which will build upon our unique position as a West Indian and American territory under the U.S. flag. I want to take special note of an institution in our islands that. perhaps more than any other. symbolizes the dreams and aspirations of Virgin Islanders. and provides one of the most important vehicles our people have to realize the full potential of their destiny: The University of the Virgin Islands. The University of the Virgin Islands. one of the Nations historically black colleges and universities. is the only institution of higher education in the territory. A relatively young institution29 years of ageUVI has carved an indelible place. not only in the history of the Virgin Islands but in the Caribbean region as well. Twothirds of the student population attend on a parttime basis. They are working men and women who are able to further their education and further the horizons of their. lives through the learning they obtain at the university. In its short history. it has produced two Rhodes scholars and students from UVI have excelled in graduate schools all over the United States. UVI graduates hold positions of prominence in government in the territory. in many Caribbean island states. and in the U.S. Federal Government. UVIs new president. Dr. Orville Kean. who officially begins his leadership of the university next month. in many ways personifies the AfricanAmerican Virgin Islander of the 20th and 21st centuries. He is a man of the arts and sciences. a man of strength and leadership. and a man of humility. His vision will serve as an example of the limitless opportunities that blacks and. indeed. all. Virgin Islanders can achieve when built on the foundation of a sound education. . The new administration under Dr. Kean plans to increase the student population. expand the programs and activities to increase the universitys competitiveness as a HBCU. In addition. UVI can effectively serve as the center for leadership training in the Caribbean region. The university can collaborate with institutions from abroad to expand and improve its services. To do this. the University of the Virgin Islands and. indeed. all HBCUs need continued support. During Black History Month and during every month and every year. we must realize the importance of education and higher education to blacks and to all peoples. For institutions like UVI truly epitomize and symbolize the greatness to which we all can aspire. and the unlimited opportunities that can be ours. Mr. Speaker. let me say that the U.S. Virgin Islands. her people. and university are proud to share in this celebration of Black History Month. 0l 1730