Acknowledgements

First of all I would like to thank my teacher, Miss Atkinson for guiding me throughout this entire study and correcting me along the way. Her constructive criticism is much appreciated without it, this project would have been a shadow of what it is now.

I would also like to thank my parents who made all the resources that I needed available and easily accessible. They have been very supportive of me and my efforts to complete this SBA.

Furthermore I am extremely grateful to all the people who helped me collect my information including the interviewees Mr. Henry and Mr. Montoute. A special thanks also to Mr. Branford who not only was part of my interview schedule, but also provided extra documentary information to me. The co-operation of staff of the St. Lucia National Archives and the Archaeological Research Society is also immensely appreciated.

Lastly, I would like to thank God for granting me the health and strength to carry out my research and the determination to continue even when the future of the project looked quite gloom.

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Prelude

St. Lucians monitored the negotiations between the US and Britain closely and by November 1940, excitement about the advent of the American base was mounting. Devaux (2012) says that anticipation of construction activity, higher wages and a good market for agricultural produce was soaring in Vieux-Fort. One journalist reported ‘The general feeling in Vieux Fort, and even at the village of Laborie three miles away is one of jubilant expectancy. “Work will be increased and we will be well paid” A labourer at Vieux Fort told me, while one woman to whom I spoke … said “I am sure I will get a good price for my yams and other provisions, and my husband and my children will all get work”.’ Meanwhile The Voice Newspaper wrote: “The man on the street … looks forward to a new era of prosperity although remaining loyal to Britain. Americans are popular here, and American influence is strong.’

Harmsen (1999) says that such feverish anticipation was not remarkably surprising, for as we saw, the Great Depression of the 1930’s had caused tremendous poverty for most of these people. “The spirit of the people was reflected in the appearance of the town. Deserted streets, dilapidated weather beaten houses, sadly crying for a coat of paint, vacant lots, empty shops – a city of the dead.”

Mr. Eric Branford was 10 years old at the same and he said “There was much excitement prior to the base.” He also explained that St. Lucians had encountered Americans on the island and that they already had a good relationship with them. “We were accustomed to Americans in tourist ships. St. Lucians were close to the Americans because they spent money when they came.” It can be seen from this that the woman in the above paragraph had good reason to think that she would get sales for her food. The fact that the St. Lucians already liked the US national only added to the great excitement in the island. It was not any country who was coming to settle, but it was the United States of America.

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Research Topic: US in the Caribbean from 1776-1985

How did the establishment of the US Base in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia impact on the economic conditions in the town of Vieux Fort from 1941-1947?

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RationaleMany Saint Lucians including myself know little about the American Base in Vieux-Fort during the 1940’s. By delving into this research, I intend to broaden my knowledge on the topic. I plan to make this information available for future reference to other students. As an aspiring economist, this area of research is fitting for my interests. By analyzing the economic effects of the US Base on Vieux Fort Town, it can only help me to sharpen my skills in the field of Economics.

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Objectives By the end of this study, the researcher hopes to find answers to the following:

What was the economic condition of the Vieux Fort town before the Americans came? How did the establishment of the US Base in Vieux-Fort affect the level of employment

during the period 1941-1945? How did the influx of military personnel change the demand for local goods and produce

during the said period? What infrastructural changes were implemented in Vieux-Fort town as a result of

American Activity? How did the American Activity in Vieux-Fort affect the sustainable economic development

? Did the activity of the Americans in Vieux-Fort during the 1940’s have an overall benefit

on the Vieux-Fort town?

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Vieux-Fort Before the Americans

Mr. Hard Times

The period of the 1930’s in St. Lucia were famously called “Mr. Hard Times”. Devaux (2012) says, ‘The Great Depression hit hardest in the south, where the Vieux Fort Sugar Company had been paying below minimum wages since 1930. Vieux-Fort had no peasantry, since all 4000 acres of land around the town were owned by the sugar company. In 1936, faced with throwing good money after bad, the Vieux-Fort Sugar Company opted to pull out altogether, leaving 1000 wage labourers and 6000 dependents staring starvation full in the eye.’

Barbadian Settlement Scheme

A flash of hope appeared for Vieux-Fort residents in 1936. Devaux (2012) explains that a Bajan Sugar Company had bought over the closed estate in 1936. By 1938, 700 St. Lucians and Barbadians were employed on the estate. The factory, rum still and store house were repaired, partial drainage of the La Tourney and Pointe-Sable swamps got underway and wooden houses for the managers were erected at Blackbay. Optimism reigned.

Devaux (2012) goes on to say that by December 1938, the Barbados Company employed 1200 labourers, almost all of them St. Lucians, and put £1,000 of wages into circulation monthly. General Manager Chase reported: ‘The town itself has taken a new lease of life since the business of the Company got under way. After pay day, it reminds one of Swan Street on Saturday evening. Several new places of business have been opened, including branch stores of the largest business houses in Castries.’

But in October 1940, the music changed. Devaux says that scouts from a United States mission arrived to survey the south of St. Lucia for the possible construction of a military base. The Barbados company was instructed to curtail its sugar production for 1941 to just 2,000 tons. This effectively sabotaged the scheme’s potential for survival. Not long after, the United States was granted a lease on a large portion of the Barbados Company’s acreage. This rendered the continuation of the project impossible and on 30 June 1942, after just four years of operation, the Barbados Settlement Company wound down its business. Once again, Vieux-Fort slumped into a state of economic disarray.

In 1940 'Mister Hard Times' had taken up residence once again. Describing Vieux Fort before the influence of the US base became felt, The Voice wrote: "Stern and haggard faces met one on every side. The spirit of the people was reflected in the appearance of the town. Deserted streets, dilapidated weather beaten houses, sadly crying for a coat of paint, vacant lots, empty shops - a city of the dead."

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Completion of Vieux Fort Base

With the exception of one or two buildings, construction was completed on 15 November 1942 and in March 1943 the engineering department handed over the completed Beane-Field Air Base to the Post Engineer. Devaux (2012) says that by then the base occupied over 3000 acres of land and had cost over ten million US dollars. It was divided into two sections: 1289 acres built at Beane Field (just north of Vieux Fort Town) and another 671 acres at Cantonement (now St. Jude’s Highway).

According to Harmsen (1999), Beane-Field became the site of two parallel runways and ancillary buildings such as a hangar and a fire station.

Harmsen also describes the infrastructure at the Cantonement Base. At this site, the Americans built their hospital: an expensive and ultra-modern affair at the time. The hospital …

‘… was furnished with very costly and modern equipment to the value of two million US dollars. In fact, this hospital was so large and elaborate especially when one considered the small base in St. Lucia, that people who actually worked on the base seem convinced that the plan for this hospital was really meant for the Wallerfield operations in Trinidad.’

All the equipment, however, was pulled out when the Americans dismantled the base in 1949. In all, between early 1941 and late 1942, on the plains of Vieux-Fort were built:

‘… 352 buildings, two 5000 ft concrete runways with taxiways, hardstands, revetments, two nose hangars and other Air Corps maintenance buildings. There are housing facilities for 4673 Enlisted Men and 649 Officers on the base, making a total troop capacity of 5332 men. There is 96,951 sq ft or warehouse area, a 1000 man Laundry and a completely equipped 150 bed Hospital.’

Above: Picture illustrating the opening of the Base in Vieux-Fort

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Devaux (2012) explains that another major outlay was the construction of a deep-water harbor to accommodate large ships which could then bring in machinery and building equipment. In addition to the above constructions, infrastructure was put in place to secure water, electricity and fuel supplies as well as a sewerage system. Built also were fuel depots, incinerators, garage, barber shop, general store, movie theatre, stockade, a 50 line telephone exchange, cold storage and ice plant, docks and warehousing and an officer’s club with a dayroom and library. Most of these facilities benefitted only the base, not the town of Vieux-Fort.

A fire station was built at the back of the site where the Skyway Inn Hotel now stands (a concrete slab is still visible). An underground tunnel was constructed which ran from the airport to St. Jude’s hospital, while another tunnel runs from the airport to the top of where Clarke Street is now. The Americans also built the concrete road which runs from the town along Anse Sable, and New Dock Road.

Fig. 1 – Map of Vieux Fort showing Beane-Field Area and Airport

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BeaneField

Vieux Fort Base – The Place to Be

Devaux says that the military presence in Vieux Fort was much larger and so too was its impact on the local community. At first the effects of the base were mostly positive. Drainage of the remaining swamps and a larger market for produce, increased employment and higher wages led to better standards of living. A young reporter for The Voice, Clendon Mason, witnessed the changes first hand. What had been a town ‘of lifeless sandy streets lined on either side with a parade of closed and battered houses standing at drooping attention’ was changing before his eyes. ‘The capital of yesterday, the busy town of today and the metropolis of tomorrow is now seething with activity. On groggy legs, the town of the Old Fort struggles to shake off it senility and to raise its proud head once more atop rejuvenated limbs.’

At 8 a.m. on a Monday morning, Mason strolled from Vieux Fort town to the site of the new base.

‘Cars and trucks passed up and down in steady streams, some driven by Americans, some by local chauffeurs,… Every other face almost was one from Castries, and nearly every other one was from Barbados or somewhere. And things were humming! There was the… sight of a giant motor shovel cutting through earth like paper, and lifting several hundred- weight to dump it onto the huge waiting truck…Americans in khaki pants and helmets, broad bare backs baked to a brown tan beneath the blazing sun.

Mason walked as far as the newly named Beane-Field area, where the Pointe Sable estate house had been converted into modern offices for the contractors and army officials. ‘Several… desks each with one or two more persons seated at it, were scattered all over the floor. Around the room were safes and lockers of every description… On the desks were streamlined typewriters, the latest models. Electric lights were burning all the while from the roof… In the inner office some lady stenographers were rattling the keys of their typewriters.’

Above: St. Lucians from all around the island came to Vieux-Fort for work.

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Farmers, local producers and food vendors also had access to a much larger market. Stuff like fish, ground provisions and eggs were sold to the base. However, the base imported most of its food. Also there was a sudden swell in demand from St. Lucians for local goods. Since thousands locals were employed at the base and people had more money in their pockets, they had the financial power to buy as much food as they wanted. Mr. Antoine says “So many people were employed down in Vieux-Fort so the farmers went there to sell. Ice-cream, eggs and ground provisions used to be sold down there.”

Also Mr. Branford mentioned a local company, Layafette Fruit & Co. who benefitted from a contract with the Americans. He says “Because of the war there was a serious shortage of flour and the Americans contracted Layafette Fruit and Co. who had the bakery to supply them with bread. The Americans provided the flour and made it possible for St. Lucians to obtain bread from their flour.”

All three interviewees mentioned employment as a huge benefit from the American especially my grandfather who stressed on the words “A lot, a lot of employment.”

Harmsen reports that at the time, the base occupied 115 American and over 600 West Indian workers who were paid £2,500 weekly in local salaries. Between April 1941 and June 1942, the local workforce expanded until it peaked at 4561 local employees, directed by 600 Americans.

Not only in Vieux-Fort benefitted from employment, but also the city of Castries. Mr. Branford said that several persons were employed as ‘washers’ (laundresses) when the Americans came up to the city.

Below: Line graph illustrating the employment boom during the construction of the base and its rapid decline after completion of the base.

1941 1942 1943 1944 19450

5001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,000

1,000

4,500

800 750500

Average Employment Figures in Vieux- Fort from 1941-1945

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However, once the base was completed, from mid 1943 onwards, the employment boom waned. Harmsen says that it peaked in June 1942 but two months later by August, employment figures dropped from 4,561 to 2,738. By January of 1943, less than six hundred people still received a wage from the Americans. This figure slowly climbed again to just over a thousand workers from September through to November 1943, after which date numbers once more dwindled to between 500 and 750 over 1945. By December of that year, the Vieux-Fort base had ceased to provide employment to locals. In 1944, a government report stated: ‘Labour conditions generally reverted further to normal. There was little or no demand for labour on the United States Bases and, as a result, there was a noticeable increase in peasant agriculture as compared with previous years; most estates were able to obtain their labour requirements without difficulty.’ Once again, unemployment was business in St. Lucia.

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Farewell Americans – The War Ends

On 29 August 1949, the US Army offered its remaining facilities for sale to the Government of St. Lucia. For US $200,000, the administration bought 150 buildings, two 150 KW generators, a cold storage plant, a water filtration plant, gasoline storage and pipelines, sand washing tanks and various other items. At the same time 700 acres of land were released back to the Government. For a short while, the dismantling of the base triggered hopes for new development in Vieux Fort, including tourism. But none of the proposals materialized.

For two decades after the War, there was little economic activity in Vieux-Fort. Educational opportunities were limited to the primary school level and apart from fishing or perhaps becoming a tradesman or shop assistant, the town offered few opportunities for young people.

Vieux Fort entered the 1950’s as a town dazed by its recent roller coaster ride through economic and social upheaval. While some of the older inhabitants attempted to pick up the threads of their simple pre-war existence, a rising generation of young adults was desperate to leave this dull, poverty-stricken town and seek out brighter horizons.

Above: Member of the St. Lucia National Trust at Beane-Field

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Analysis & Interpretation

The arrival of the Americans in Vieux-Fort in the early 1940’s brought several improvements to the economic conditions of the town. There was an increase in employment, major infrastructural projects, an increased demand for local goods and a much higher standard of living. Though living conditions and employment slumped again after they left, the Americans left so many things that Vieux-Fort has to be thankful for.

What were the economic conditions in Vieux Fort like before the Americans came?

Vieux-Fort was suffering from a severe economic crisis from the early to mid 1930’s. Due to the harsh economic conditions, the Vieux-Fort Sugar Company had been paying workers wages that were so low they called it “starvation wages.” To make matters worse for residents, a stable peasantry farming system could not be established because the sugar company occupied the majority of the land. In 1936, the Company closed down and over a thousand people were added to the unemployment level. Slight hope appeared after with the Barbadian Settlement Scheme which was doing considerably well up until the construction of the US Base rendered it unable to continue. The scheme saw several new roads built, partial drainage of the swamp and employment for almost a thousand St. Lucians. However, after it was forced into closure, Vieux-Fort slumped back into economic crisis.

How did the establishment of the US Base in Vieux-Fort affect the level of employment during its tenure from 1941-1945?

As soon as preparations for the construction of the base began in early 1941, about 600 people gained employment. Between April 1941 and June 1942, the local workforce expanded until it peaked at 4561 local employees. However, once the base was completed, from mid 1943 onwards, the employment boom waned. By 1944, employment figures fluctuated between 500 and 750 persons. Once again, unemployment was rife in St. Lucia. Hence, it can be said that the Americans only provided a short, temporary avenue for employment and not avenues for long-term sustainable employment. Castries also benefitted employment-wise as some Americans employed laundresses when they came up to the city.

How did the influx of military personnel change the demand for local goods and produce during their stay?

Peasant farming was prevalent in all corners of the island and small farmers hoped that the arrival of the Americans would increase their market to sell to. Though only a slight amount was sold to the Americans who imported most of their food, the newfound money circulating in the

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economy meant that St. Lucians bought much more local produce. A local bakery also benefitted from the Americans who contracted them to make bread for them.

What infrastructural changes did the American Activity in St. Lucia bring about in Vieux Fort?

Infrastructure was definitely the area in which the Americans had the largest impact on Vieux-Fort. A complete network of roads was built in the town. The Americans installed electricity, water and sewage systems, a fire station, radio station, two nose hangars and Air Corps maintenance, fuel depots etc. There was also a completely equipped 150 bed Hospital and a harbour. Much of this infrastructure however was only available to the Americans. Vieux-Fortians didn’t enjoy any of the electricity, water and sewage systems which were put in place. In fact St. Lucia’s worse typhoid epidemic was caused in 1942 by the contamination of river water by faeces dumped in a nearby bush latrine. This serves to show how some of the infrastructure only benefitted the Americans and not the locals. Furthermore the hospital was only used by Americans on the base and the airport was only used for military operations; it didn’t benefit the locals in any way.

How did the activity of the Americans in Vieux-Fort affect its sustainable economic development after they left?

The arrival of the Americans in Vieux-Fort during the 1940’s only brought temporary economic benefits in the form of employment and increased market demand for local products. Apart from the infrastructure left behind, the Americans contributed very little to the sustainable socio-economic development in Vieux-Fort. Both Mr. Henry and Mr. Branford shared this view.

For two decades after the War, there was little economic activity in Vieux-Fort. People moved away to other districts to find work whilst those who stayed slumped back into a state of poverty.

It can be agreed however that the Americans brought great development during their stay in Vieux – Fort. Even though the Americans didn’t implement any frameworks for long-term sustainable development, the massive infrastructural changes they brought provided a foundation for development. Because of the infrastructure that Americans left behind, Vieux-Fort now has the only international airport in St. Lucia, one of the best road networks in the island and some of the best housing development areas.

Did the activity of the Americans in Vieux-Fort during the 1940’s have an overall benefit on of Vieux-Fort?

To answer this question logically we must compare the state of Vieux-Fort before and after the Americans came. Before the Base, the town’s economic affairs were gloom. The Barbadian

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Sugar Company had provided some relief, providing work for hundreds of workers, building a few roads and partially draining the swamps. However, whatever the Sugar Company did well, the Americans did better. The two main swamps were fully drained, there was a complete road network in Vieux Fort, there were two runways, a light house and the town was now equipped with the largest hospital the island had ever seen. It is clear to see now that the Americans had an immense overall benefit on Vieux-Fort especially in the infrastructural sector. Even though they disappointed on the social side of things, it is nothing compared to the mass amount of development that the Americans left behind.

When asked whether or not the coming of the Americans had an overall benefit on Vieux-Fort, Mr. Branford answered without hesitation “Yes, great benefit.” Such was the view of the other interviewees, Mr. Henry and Mr. Montoute.

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ConclusionVieux-Fort was generally in a gloomy situation years before the Americans’ arrival. The establishment of the Barbadian Sugar Settlement Company provided a glimmer of hope, however, God knows why they had to make way for the Americans. Mass employment, increased local demand and major infrastructural gains came to St. Lucia as a result of the Americans stay. One may criticize the temporary nature of the employment and some the lack of sustainable development that the Americans brought, but the scale of development that they brought during they stay is immeasurable.

When asked if Vieux Fort would have been the town it is today without the American influence, this is what Mr. Branford had to say, “No. It would take us a long time to develop. The English and French once occupied Vieux-Fort but no nation brought development like the Americans did. St. Jude’s is one of the landmarks in Vieux-Fort, the airport is another, the road to the lighthouse, the development of Blackbay and Augier housing settlements. It’s proof that the Americans were here. The things that they gave us were a godsend.”

Mr. Henry shared the same thoughts as well. “The base triggered the development of Vieux Fort. Without the base there would be no airport, hospital etc.” he said. “Without the Americans Vieux Fort wouldn’t be what it is now.”

Because of the Americans establishment of the base, Vieux-Fort now hosts the only international airport in St. Lucia which has also facilitated the rise of the Tourism industry. Until 2010, it also held the largest hospital (St. Jude’s) in the island which has provided medical care to thousands of patients every year. It boasts the one of the best road networks on the island and the areas where the swamps lay before are now covered with housing and commercial development. Many schools have also been constructed in Vieux-Fort. All these things have either come from the Americans directly or have been built upon what the Americans left.

The Americans provided a more than sufficient foundation for Vieux-Fort to have developed into the 2nd leading town in St. Lucia that it is today.

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Start of Vieux Fort Base

On 27 March 1941, a lease was signed and on that same day, US engineers began uprooting hundreds of coconut trees at Pointe Sable Estate. By April work was in full swing with 40 American and 390 local employees. Harmsen (1999) says that their priority was the construction of houses for the American engineers and drainage of the swamps at Pointe Sable and Port des Savannes. For centuries these swamps had been the source of malarial infection.

According to Devaux (2012), the Americans were faced with an even bigger task. Thomas Bentley explained in a secret report that Vieux Fort was in a remote corner of St. Lucia, lacking ‘any semblance of modern civilization and facilities.’ It was connected to Castries ‘only by a narrow, winding, hilly road. There were no railway systems, no water, no sewage or power facilities … All materials except stone and sand had to be imported and unloaded in a harbor devoid of any docking facilities save a few small lighters.’

Devaux (2012) says that though the island was too small for a railway to be built and it would be too costly to construct an entire route from Castries to Vieux Fort, water, sewage and power facilities were built whilst roads were constructed throughout Vieux Fort and existing ones were improved. Also a docking facility was built. In fact the Americans’ first goal was to build a dock with a long jetty and good access – still known today as New Dock Road.

‘Another great obstacle to normal production was the type of local labour available.’ Bentley reported. ‘Although not wanting in numbers, they were deficient in competence and endurance. It was often necessary to recruit labour completely unfamiliar with modern tools and methods of construction. These men had to be trained before beginning work and close supervision was necessary.’ As if that was not bad enough, ‘During the construction period there was a great deal of stealing of all types of equipment and material. It became necessary to set up an auxillary police system which at one time numbered close to 100 men.’

Nevertheless, by the middle of April 1941, ships were offloading equipment and supplies in Vieux Fort for use by the contractor and on 16 June a temporary runway permitted the first US Bomber to land. Devuax (2012) goes on to say that the base’s radio station (WVDQ) came into operation around this time as well. On 4 August, another fourteen American officer plus 296 enlisted men arrived in Vieux Fort, followed in October by a medical staff of three doctors and five nurses. The former Barbados Settlement headquarters at La Retraite/ Beausejour were turned into an interim hospital, while a brand new hospital was constructed at Cantonement. In November, 24 officers and 177 enlisted men arrived at the base to be trained as a bombardment squadron.

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The Vieux Fort Base would soon receive another upgrade because of an unexpected turn of events. Harmsen explains that on 7th December 1941, a Japanese attack killed 2000 US army personnel in Hawaii. America declared war on Japan the next day. Shortly thereafter, Vichy France became completely allied with the Rome/Berlin axis and Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. The war was now the Americans’ business as well. Heavier guns and cannons were installed in strategic locations at the base. The US defense secretary publicly announced America’s determination to seize control of Martinique should the Germans attempt to occupy it.

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Remnants of the Americans by 1985

Today evidence of American World War II presence in Vieux Fort abound. St. Jude’s Hospital, network of roads and runways, the recently demolished Kai Planes (airplane houses), Beanefield Airport (lengthened and renamed Hewanorra), bridges, water plants, water reservoirs, underground tunnels, the finger pier dock, the secondary school, and remnants of radar systems on Moule-a-Chique and on Morne le Blanc, are all part of American wartime legacy.

Also still present today is the underground tunnel that runs from Clark Street all the way to St. Judes Hospital in Augier. This tunnel was used for storage of supplies and also a quick route to the hospital. Many people who reside in Vieux-Fort today have no idea about such a tunnel.

Above: Jetty constructed by Americans is now Hewanorra International Airport

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Bibliography

Jolien Harmsen, Guy Ellis and Robert Devaux, A History of St. Lucia. Lighthouse Road Publications, St. Lucia: Cap Moule à Chique, Vieux-Fort, 2012.

Jolien Harmsen, Sugar, Slavery & Settlement. St. Lucia National Trust, St. Lucia: Pigeon Point, Gros-Islet, 1999.

Lennox Honychurch, The Caribbean People. 3rd Edition, Nelson Thornes Ltd, UK: Delta PLace, 27 Bath Road, Cheltenham, 2006.

William Claypole, John Robottom, Caribbean History: Independence, Book 2. Pearson Education Limited, England: Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex, 2009.

http://www.jakoproductions.com/main.asp?sID=15&page=vfortbushtalk, Vieux-Fort.

http://da-academy.org/StLucia_WW2.pdf, St. Lucia and World War II.

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Reflection

Through much hard-work and dedication and many obstacles along the way, I more than satisfied with this project that I have put forward.

From the beginning of the project, many obstacles were encountered. At first, I spent 2 weeks trying to figure out a suiting topic on which I could get an abundance of data on. In fact, I changed my research question about 3 times. When the topic was finally decided on data collection proved the difficult at first, but after months of looking around and getting to understand the nature of the topic I found excellent people and places to get my information from. From there, everything began to pick up well and my work of art was being constructed bit by bit. There are a few things which I think could have been done better including getting more interviews. More statistical and quantitative data could have been obtained but due to the lack of information which was done in the 1940’s, such data is extremely tedious to find.

As much as there were obstacles and weaknesses, they were some areas of this project which I think are very strong. Though the data collection seemed difficult at first, an abundance of information was obtained. This dissertation is packed with all the economic information that you can find on the American Base in Vieux-Fort. Also I believe that the interviews were of great quality and a lot of important information was collected from them.

This was definitely an interesting and enjoyable journey. Many interesting facts were learnt about the Americans. I had no idea that the American Base brought so much development to Vieux-Fort. Before this project, I just had general knowledge that a base once existed in Vieux-Fort but now I can safely say that I am close to an expert on the topic. As I said before, I have a keen eye for reliving my country’s history and this project gave me the opportunity to do exactly so.

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