It is a great pleasure to have Therold Prudent with us today. She has written a thought-provoking book that gives us a glimpse of what life might be like when tragedy strikes a small community. Welcome to ReaderViews.

Irene: Please give us the gist of your book Therold.

Therold: The essence of “Glory Days and Tragedy” is about the untold story of what life was really like growing up in a small Caribbean town called Gros Islet, and a harrowing tragedy at sea that followed. The book squarely focuses on the meaning of childhood innocence and friendships in their purest form, while at the same time refusing to ignore the existence of social ignorance and religious intolerance that for the most part influenced our early perception of the good. and evil. However, as the story grows to paint a colorful picture of a way of life unknown in many developed countries and societies, gradually the unifying sentiments of a divided community after being struck by tragedy at sea come into clear focus. Presumably, six young people from the Gros Islet community are missing at sea.

Irene: You speak of social ignorance and religious fanaticism. However, that is “normal” in their society. Leaving the island and being exposed to other cultures is when I assume you realized that life could be different. Am I right in assuming this?

Therold: You’re welcome. While leaving the island and being exposed to other cultures helped broaden my understanding of the world and strengthen my sense of personal independence, it is worth noting that the process of freeing my mind from religious ignorance and intolerance began in Saint Lucia. I have a very intelligent mother who never accepted as a norm everything that was transmitted to her in society. She was, in every sense of the word, a social rebel. In fact, in the early days, when women in St. Lucia shied away from politics and other social and religious issues and were too afraid to speak their minds, my mother was never afraid to speak up. From an early age she instilled in us the virtues of always seeking the truth and standing up for our principles, even when most would laugh in our face.

I understood then, as I understand today, that I must always show respect for the religious and political convictions of others, no matter how far they are from my own. However, having said that, I do not want to leave you with the impression that social ignorance and religious fanaticism exist in Saint Lucia today. As a nation we have come a long way. We have many educated young men and women in the country who have shown that they can think for themselves.

Irene: What inspired you to write this book?

Therold: The painful nature of that tragedy, my love for Gros Islet, its people, and a lifelong desire to put our little island of St. Lucia on the world stage.

Irene: Santa Lucía is on stage, but as a tourist attraction. You are teaching the reader about the life of the local inhabitants. What reactions have you had from the locals about your book?

Therold: I am very pleased with the local reaction to my book. Judging by the many people who have taken the time to contact me personally after reading the book, the general feeling is that I have actually presented a very compelling story that is simply not just about the tragedy that occurred, but about the forgotten memories. of what happened. life was once like in Santa Lucia in the old days. Also, if you’ll allow me for a moment to go back to your statement that “St. Lucia is on stage, but as a tourist attraction,” I’d like to agree. However, is that all there is to St. Lucia?

Certainly not! And so, it is for that very reason that I have decided to go down the path of educating the world that Saint Lucia is not all about sun, fun, rum, casino games and calypso. In fact, while it is true that the tourism industry plays a fundamental role in the economy, the world must also recognize that there is a local society with a very interesting history and a unique way of life. As Saint Lucians, there is more to us than meets the eye of the tourist. Our local customs and traditions far outweigh the natural and physical beauty of our island.

Irene: There’s a lot of talk these days because Frey’s book is non-fiction with some, shall we say, admitted creative additions. Her book is considered non-fiction and is based on a true story. How much creativity did you allow to go into your book?

Therold: None at all! In my book “Glory Days and Tragedy,” what the reader gets is an honest and candid recreation of a series of events by an author who spent years researching and piecing together the story. The focus of my mission was not to embellish any part of my book, but to use my God-given abilities to write clearly, precisely, and very descriptively to capture the reader’s interest. Also, unlike Mr. Frey, who was unable to provide any sources to substantiate some of his claims, I have a legend of people living on a beautiful island called St. Lucia who will no doubt vouch for the authenticity of “Glory Days and Tragedy.” . I hope Oprah is taking note (Laughter). There are some really harrowing life stories, which are not a figment of the writer’s imagination.

Irene: Of six young people who went out to sea, how many survived the ordeal? And what emotional state are they in now?

Therold: Of the six young men who went out to sea, only one survived. His name is Kennedy Philip, a young man I am proud to call my friend. After weeks at sea, his ship made landfall in the South American country of Columbia. Among the dead were his brother George and his first cousin Perry. Today, though the memories of what happened nearly 20 years ago are still painfully fresh in his mind, Kennedy has been able, by God’s grace, to rebuild his life.

Irene: How much information about the ordeal was Kennedy able to give you?

Therold: Aside from my account of what happened on land during the ordeal, the entire story of what actually happened at sea and later in Columbia came from Kennedy himself. At this point I must also mention a very good friend named Stanislaus “Nourgearo” Phulchure. He is also a personal friend of Kennedy, who took it upon himself to attempt a series of rescue missions at sea during the ordeal. In the summer of 1994, which is when I decided to start work on the book, I relied heavily on “Nourgearo” to help me piece together the events that occurred on the ground during the ordeal.

Irene: The story is very near and dear to you. Did you have to write this book as part of your own grieving process for the loss of close friends?

Therold: Yes, I did. It was also something that I believed I owed to my childhood friend (George) who died in that tragedy. If he hadn’t tried to write the story, the memory of him and the other children who perished at sea would be completely forgotten. I have also agreed to use part of the proceeds from the book to erect a memorial to the children. I know the road ahead will be very hard, but I am a very small but tough guy who knows how to make things happen by keeping his word.

Irene: What was the main belief of the people of the island when the children did not return in a certain time?

Therold: Not many people were aware of what had happened. In fact, the news didn’t fully break until Saturday afternoon, almost a day after the boys put to sea. Aside from “Nourgearo” and a few close friends, many people were kept in the dark. However, by the time the news hit the streets around 4 or maybe 5 in the afternoon, crowds of people had begun to gather in the streets. At first it was pure disbelief, but all this would change.

Irene: And how did they react?

Therold: I saw grown men with tears in their eyes, which really moved me as a teenager. Later, everyone had a story to tell about their personal experiences with each of the boys. I think it was this kind of humble atmosphere that brought the community together and helped sustain it throughout the ordeal.

Irene: Did they give up on the boys’ return?

Therold: Oh boy! As the days went by, I wouldn’t say they gave up on the boys. This was perhaps one of the saddest periods I have experienced on the island and in the town of Gros Islet in particular. But finally, with no sign of their return, there were a large number of people who seem to have gradually accepted the probability that the children would perish at sea.

Irene: What was the reaction of the locals when Kennedy returned to St. Lucia after his ordeal?

Therold: Kennedy’s return to St. Lucia was like a celebration worthy of a hero. A large number of people had flocked to the airport to witness his grand entrance on the island. I was not present at the airport that night, but was one of the lucky few to sit with him in private the next morning. To this day, that moment has continued to resonate with me. Like it was yesterday, I can still see Kennedy’s lean body and the paleness on his face as he walked over to greet me for the first time since the ordeal.

Irene: Your country of origin is Saint Lucia. Where do you live now and what inspired you to leave?

Therold: While St. Lucia will always be my home, I live in a very quiet and charming town in Queens, New York called Laurelton. I consider it my home away from home. My main reason for leaving was to pursue a lifelong goal of educating myself. I have successfully achieved that goal and have therefore turned my attention to conquering another passion called professional writing.

Irene: There is a lot of belief in spirits and mysticism in many of the Caribbean countries. Tell us about some of the beliefs and how they are passed down from generation to generation.

Therold: (Laughs) I really don’t know how to answer this question. However, I must point out that when it comes to Saint Lucia (compared to countries like Haiti); belief in spirits and mysticism is not a widely recognized norm or religion in our society. Now, this is not to say that there aren’t a few people in Saint Lucia with very strong beliefs in spirits and mysticism. Instead, what I’m saying is that those who do it are often very secretive about it. Therefore, it would be very difficult for me to explain how those who believe in it have been able to pass it down from generation to generation.

Irene: Thank you very much Therold. I find this conversation fascinating and would love to take more time to talk with you. However, we have to finish for now. I hope we have taken a look at you and your book. Is there anything else you’d like your reading public to know about you or your book “Glory Days and Tragedy”?

Therold: I really enjoyed this interview and the opportunity to talk about my book and my beloved country. It was certainly a pleasure. Thank you.