Williams Delight, U.S. Virgin Islands
Williams Delight is a settlement on the island of Saint Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. William's Delight is one of the largest settlements on the island of St. Croix. It extends from the middle of the island to near the bottom (south). It contains one of the longest straight roads running from North to South. It is named Long Wait Road. St. Croix is 3 miles from top to bottom so the 1.5–2-mile north-south drive seems much longer than usual. On the north is the public housing community also known as the Projects and called 'Top' by the locals. On the south, from 6th Street North and all the way to Melvin Evans Highway is private housing and called 'Bottom'. Across the highway is private housing again called 'Dead Bottom' or 'Bottom Beach' by the locals. This area is one of the hottest areas on the West Side and South Side of the island temperatures can range from 89 degrees to 97 degrees on a regular day. It depends on if one is more north than south in this neighborhood.
Williams Delight, United States Virgin Islands | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Country | United States Virgin Islands |
| Island | Saint Croix |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
The reason is that there is a beach (once famous) at the end of William's Delight. It has lost its tourist and local visits due to pollution (from Hovensa, Anguilla Landfill).
Until the mid-2000s William's Delight stretched from the Cruzan Rum Factory until Two Williams. The distance from those two places is approximately 10 miles, with neighborhoods that took names for themselves such as Enfield Green, Estate Carlton, Cane Carlton, Good Hope, Diamond, Centerline Road, and Two Williams.
Williams Delight is a community of which many successful Virgin Islanders have emerged: There are doctors, lawyers, educators, nurses, police officers, tradesmen and women, musicians, artists and many other productive citizens of society. The population of Williams Delight is large and extensive. There are many economic groups that comprise the population of Williams Delight. The top section of Williams Delight has been the most popular and influential part of the estate; it contains the most modern and stable infrastructure. There are street-lights throughout the top section there is an advance potable water delivery system, Sophisticated sewer disposal system, computer lab, Resident Leadership office, Laundry, grocery, and a huge mall next door. Williams Delight is home to many well-known families such as the Williams, Websters, Wakefields Gardines, Henrys, Watheys, Joseph's Meade, Jadooram, Jagroop, Weekes, Esqulin,Gomez Encarnacion, Bastian, Jones, Joseph, Prentice, Gerard, Fenton, Gachette, Camacho, France, Ryner, Cochrane, Samuel, Stevens, Rivera, Rumelle, Menders, Natta, Athony,Ilarazza's, Brache's, Simmonds, Glasgow, Pope, Noel, Sanes, Poleon, Harry, Richards, Nicholas, Reece, Revan, Brandy, Mondesir, Sabin- Dariah- Abraham Heywood's, Lendarts' Belardo's, Gemmes, Charles, Simon, Gaston, Daniel, and many others.
The Annual Community Empowerment Celebrations is hosted every year at the East Park in Williams Delight this event is always well attended and highly supported by residents and nonresidents alike. Williams Delight Top specifically the Williams Delight Villas is the Heart Beat of the entire estate it is the most popular and most exciting. Crime and criminal activity was never a problem historically, Williams Delight has suffered because of many poor political decisions governmental failure and specifically the Virgin Islands Housing Authority's lack of responsibility and gross negligence in maintaining the Neighborhood area of Williams Delight Villas of which it owns. Williams Delight is also home to the Youth Empowerment Symposium (YES) which is a youth empowerment program that supports and provides social guidance and assistance to children in an effort to help them to become positive productive and successful citizens. There is community awareness, cultural awareness, interpersonal communication, academics, conflict resolution and much more provided through this dynamic one of a kind uplifting youth program. This program is highly respected and recognized throughout the Estate and St. Croix among its strongest supporters is Abdul Ali a famous talk show host and community advocate.
Williams Delight is home to the Konshus Music King Legend Ambassador Social Activist Public Housing and Home-ownership Advocate and Law School Candiadate (“Moonark" James P.G. Wakefield) who has kept Williams Delight's struggle and plight in the forefront and spotlight of the Virgin Islands and the World.
Williams Delight is a community that continues to grow expand and develop it is one of the few largest estates in the Entire US Virgin Islands Located on St. Croix West side and is closely linked to the Frederiksted Town (Freedom City). It is a cultural, social, musical, and SocioEconomic and Political center.
Parks
The top section of Williams Delight contains a number of park spaces the West side of the top section has a basketball court and baseball field. This area was the training ground to its famous Basketball team of the 1970s "Dread Eyes" Williams Delight Top section East Park was the training grounds for the famous Female Volley Ball Team "Queen Bees" the park is now manicured and designated for the use of the Annual Community Empowerment Day Celebrations which takes place on December 1 each and every year. during this celebration there are world-famous acts such as King Short Shirt, Marsvyn David and The Caribbean Revue, The PAL Band "Mind Body & Soul" of Estate Whim, Xclusive Band, Juny and the Jungle who performed for the first time in 2013. This event is a World Attraction unfolding and is expected to become a global music showcase and attraction. This event features great social unification, cultural recognition, Artistic Expression, Free Food,Drinks, Outstanding Entertainment locally and internationally.The Founder of this event is "Moonark" James P.G. Wakefield to promote Love Peace Justice Community Togetherness Unity, Culture, Music, Positive Exposure, Networking, Economic Development, Social Development and Empowerment of the people. At one point there was a viable and robust Head-start program which existed from the 1970s until 2013. Many children of Williams Delight have participated and benefited from this program which focused on early childhood and educational development.
In Williams Delight there are many green-spaces and open lots. The soil is rich and fertile Williams Delight is highly favorable for agriculture. There are many local foods growing within the estate such as Mango, Guava, Soursop, Kenep or Genip, Breadfruit, Banana, Sugar Apple, Plum, Golden Apple, Sugar Cane, Coconut, and more. Many residential lots contain small gardens of various herb, spices and teas. The local people refer to these herbs as "Bush Tea" they are used for everyday drinking, as well as medicine.
Williams Delight has a strong, active and effective resident leadership organization (RLO) The current president of the public housing section is James P.G. Wakefield "Moonark" a distinguished Virgin Islander from the Island of St. Croix . Mr Wakefield is related to a large family root in St. Croix. He has been the most outspoken, vibrant and articulate supporter and advocate of the Williams Delight Home-ownership Movement. He is also the founder of the Williams Delight Villas Home-Ownership Movement which has been the catalyst for getting the Authorities and the Powers that Be to come to the table to have a productive dialogue and direct input and interaction with the struggling people of Williams Delight public housing community. The struggle however, continues as full and complete home-ownership to all residents have not materialized. Mr James P.G. "Moonark" Wakefield remains at the center of the struggle advocating tenaciously, and unrelentingly for the poor, oppressed, and disenfranchised people of his beloved community. Special Event Williams Delight 50th Anniversary:
The Williams Delight Empowerment Council "WDEC" under the illustrious fortitudinous and exemplary leadership of Mr James PG "Moonark" Wakefield has begun preparations to celebrate and commemorate the official establishment of the Williams Delight Community which was established on November 1st 1969 as a residential development. This was a conversion as well as a social economic and political transformation from a sugar cane plantation to a robust residential development with over 2,000 homes and hundreds of other structures. "At this juncture in our history we must advance the cause for the betterment of the people and their posterity To preserve a greater sense of progress and accomplishment we must march on from victory to victory" According to WDEC member and president. The Fiftieth anniversary Jubilee will culminate with a grand celebration on December 1st 2019 at the East park of Williams Delight, there will be former and current residents, entertainers, artist,musicians,bands,dignitaries, special presentations and recognition of long term and original residents.