Continues his studies of The Bahamas

By THEA RUTHERFORD, FN Features Editor

Virgil Storr first began exploring what he identified as two distinct business traditions in The Bahamas in graduate school. With the discovery that these business traditions prevailed throughout the nation's history, he eventually compiled years of economic and anthropological research into his text "Enterprising Slaves and Master Pirates: Understanding Economic Life in The Bahamas."

In the book published by European based publisher Peter Lang, he sought to reconcile these business identities, that of "Master Pirate" or "the get rich quick" persona and the "Enterprising Slave" or entrepreneurial, hard worker persona - that he recognised as having both achieved success in the country's past. "To some extent," Mr. Storr uncovers, "we're influenced by both."

With such works as Master Pirates as well as a host of academic papers, presentations and contributions to books rooted in Caribbean and African

Studies, Information Systems and economics, Mr. Storr earned himself an FSSO (Fund for the Study of Spontaneous Orders) award this year.

The economist was among the second group of individuals to receive the distinction, a monetary award, since the fund was established at the Atlas Eco-nomic Research Founda-tion in 2001. Mr. Storr, 30, is the first Bahamian to receive the award. "It was great," he says of receiving the honour. "It was nice to be awarded for work that I was interested in and wanted to do and would have done anyway."

A graduate of Freeport Anglican High (now Bishop Eldon School), Mr. Storr attended The College of the Bahamas in Nassau, before attaining a B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Economics and Management from Wisconsin's Beloit College in 1996. He worked as a software developer for the communications firm TSD for two years before the tragic death of his uncle, former Member of Parliament Charles Virgill in 1997, which prompted his return to the world of academia.

"That (the death of his uncle) made me feel like I really need(ed) to know more about home", says Mr. Storr. "It made me want to understand The Bahamas better."

Armed with the quest to deepen his understanding of the country of his birth, Mr. Storr incorporated his studies at George Mason University with subjects that were relevant to home.

He graduated in 2003 with a Ph.D. in Economics, after earning an M.A. in the same field three years before. Mr.

Storr first set out to become a college professor but accepted an offer by TSD Communica-tions to take the job of his superior 'Chief Information Officer.' In this post he continues to hold, Mr. Storr has been given the flexibility to pursue his ongoing academic interests.

The Don C. Lavoie Research Fellow in the program Politics and Economics in the Depa-rtment of Economics at George Mason University and author of numerous scholastic articles, he now awaits the appearance of his latest article focusing on the work ethic that is learnt from Junkanoo in an academic journal next year.

And he and wife, Nona Martin, a native of Eight Mile Rock, who is currently working on her Ph.D. in History, will present a history paper on the Burma Road Riots to a conference next April.

"I have a deep interest in The Bahamas and studying The Bahamas has been rewarding, says the scholar."

Mr. Storr, who lives in Washington D.C., intends to continue his studies.

"It is something that I can't imagine not doing" he stated.