Names Of MV Christina Disaster Victims In Unmarked Mass Grave Wanted

MV Christina Memorial Under Construction

Charlestown, Nevis
July 29, 2011

A call was issued to members of the public to assist with providing names of the 13 victims who were buried in a mass unmarked grave at the Bath Cemetery since August 1970.
 
In a recent interview with the Department of Information, spokesman for a group of civic minded persons who piloted a project to erect a memorial at the site of the grave Mr. Wakely Daniel said although they had information regarding some of the persons buried there the list was incomplete.
 
“We must give thanks to all those persons that assisted us [but] we must also make a public proclamation. We are in dire need of the names of all persons who would have been buried at this grave site. We do have a few of them but we kindly ask persons who have relatives who would have died on the Christina Disaster, who would have been buried here at this site to get in contact with Ms. Thelma Hunkins or you can simply call me or Mr. Ernie Stapleton at the Ministry of Communication and Works and give the names.
 
“We would appreciate it because one of the things that we intend to do is if you would realise a curved wall is being done the names would be inscribed on the wall. It would be a kind of memorial wall with the names of the persons would have been buried here would be inscribed. So we are kindly asking the general public to assist in that area,” he said.
 
Mr. Daniel also had another appeal for the public, this time it was for continued assistance with the upkeep of the memorial once it has been completed.
 
“There will be ongoing maintenance over the years and we are kindly asking the general public to feel free to give. We do not want it [memorial] to simply fall apart or to remain there in disrepair so as time goes on we will ask the general public and corporate citizens to assist us in the upkeep of this memorial site.
 
“It is something that is dear to our hearts here in Nevis, it is something that is dear to Nevisians and I would kindly ask persons to please be generous with your giving when we ask,” he said.
 
The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) through the Ministry of Communications and Works made a significant contribution toward the erection of the memorial. According to Mr. Daniel, the Administration had facilitated construction works through Hendrickson Construction Services.