Tides of Transformation 1950-2000
Before electricity, there were lanterns. Before recognition, there was silence. In Tides of Transformation, we trace how Statia's women, mothers, and memory-keepers carried an island through migration, hardship, and forgotten histories. From oil lamps to oil terminals, they shaped the soul of a community, not by speaking loudly, but by never letting it fall.
Host: Fi de Wit
Guests: Governor Lady Alida Francis, Mrs. Sylvia Angela Rivers, Mrs. Glenda Bennett, Mrs. Gay Soutekouw, and Mr. Ishmael Berkel
In Tides of Transformation, we explore St. Eustatius from 1950 to 2000, a period of quiet but profound change. As men migrated for work, women led households, nurtured communities, and anchored culture. We reflect on intergenerational silence surrounding slavery, the resilience passed down through women, and the economic shift brought by Statia Oil Terminals.
Through stories from elders, nurses, activists, and Governor Alida Francis, we witness the strength of matriarchal leadership. These aren’t tales from textbooks—they’re lived memories, told in the flicker of oil lamps and the rhythm of daily care.
—
Produced by Simpler Media
