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It all started with a few musical notes and a desire to forge closer ties with a sister island. A few years later, this idea led to the creation of an association, the Friends of Saint Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands). It was an idea that took time to mature in the minds of Vianney Blanchard, the association's first president, and his companions.
Sitting on the terrace of a café-restaurant in Gustavia, Vianney Blanchard recounts: "I'm part of a local band called New Creation. And then in my family, there are six brothers who are musicians, six children who play together. Some of them have lived in Saint Thomas for quite a while, so I told them several times that we had to go and visit!"
Touched by the welcome from the locals
At first, the whole family couldn't make the trip. So Vianney Blanchard went to Saint Thomas for the first time with some friends. It was July 14. "They always celebrate Bastille Day," he smiles. "My friends and I put on a little concert. It was a great opportunity to share with the people of Saint Thomas. We were touched. When we got back, we talked to the local government and explained that we needed to create something between the two islands." Like a twinning arrangement, for example. "Christian (Laplace) really wanted something to be set up," says Vianney. "He didn't think it was normal that there wasn't more interaction with Saint Thomas. Many people from Saint Barth went there. Some stayed, others came back, and there are strong ties."
For the next two years, Vianney Blanchard and his New Creation band returned to Saint Thomas for Bastille Day. Each time, they received the same warm welcome. "All the arrangements to go there were made on our initiative," Vianney emphasizes. "It started with our desire to go and play there. " Over the years, bonds inevitably formed. So much so that in 2024, on the occasion of the Saint-Louis festival on August 24, a group from Saint Thomas traveled to Saint Barthélemy. One step led to another.
"The local government decided to set up a twinning arrangement," recalls Vianney Blanchard. "The president came to see me and asked me to create an association to help maintain the ties." The association was officially launched at the end of January. "I hope it will last a long time," says Vianney. "Above all, I hope it will allow the inhabitants of the two islands to reconnect. Because we often lose track of our cousins and families. If I hadn't gone there, I would never have known the part of my family that lives in Saint Thomas."
For years, Vianney Blanchard and the New Creation group have been traveling to Saint Thomas to participate in Bastille Day. These trips led to the creation of the Saint Barth Association of Friends of Saint Thomas.
Towards a Saint Thomas Day?
Vianney Blanchard has very vivid memories of his first trip to the U.S. island. "People would come up to me and ask me what family I was from," he smiles. "Some would tell me they were Gréaux, Brin, etc."
For the president of the Friends of Saint Thomas association, while the twinning is a "political act," the association will have its own objectives: to create cultural, linguistic, and sporting exchanges. "Saint Thomas will also have to organize itself," he emphasizes, adding: "We will also try to gather information about our shared history. To create a day that tells this story. The goal is to recreate something strong between people and families. To get them to meet in ways other than online." Because Vianney assures us that the desire to strengthen the ties that unite the two islands is just as strong on the Saint-Thomas side.
The association is now a reality. The next step will be to formalize the twinning. Who knows, this could lead to a "Saint Thomas Day," similar to Piteå Day, which marks the annual celebration of the twinning of Saint Barthélemy with the Swedish city of Piteå.
Board members
- President: Vianney BLANCHARD
- First Vice President: Bruno GREAUX
- Second Vice President: Gregory LECOCK
- Treasurer: Rosana GREAUX
- Secretary: Coralie GRANDCLERC
