Delores Christopher the ‘true essence of a Virgin Islander’
Tributes from sitting legislators and political aspirants across the BVI have started pouring in for National Democratic Party (NDP) backbencher and Representative of the Fifth Electoral District, Delores Christopher, who passed away on Tuesday.
“Delores has been a strong member of the NDP and, in the House of Assembly, always spoke her mind as she represented the people of this territory. I know that everyone who lives here will miss her voice,” said Premier Dr D Orlando Smith who is away from the territory on private business.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of Delores,” he said after receiving the heartbreaking news.
He also placed on record his gratitude for her contribution towards the development of the territory.
BVI patriot
Acting Premier Dr Kedrick Pickering described Christopher as “a true definition of a person who exuded national pride, the true essence of an indigenous Virgin Islander.”
“One of the things we would always remember about Honourable Christopher was that she swelled with so much pride in being a BVIslander,” Dr Pickering said.
“She was a woman of many passionate words of these Virgin Islands. She was very politically-minded and advocated for the development of the people of this territory.”
He remembered the late legislator as the founder of a major seasonal initiative for the BVI — Christmas on DeCastro Street, formerly called Christmas on Main Street.
“She was a personal friend of my family and I admired her fervour in which she defended this territory and protected our rights as BVIslanders. She touched many lives and her passing is a great loss to the territory. Her contributions to the cultural development and historical preservation of the territory are invaluable.”
Hard worker
Minister for Communication and Works Mark Vanterpool said he too was saddened by the passing of his friend and colleague.
“The territory has lost a great daughter of the soil who undoubtedly had the interests of her beloved country at heart,” he stated. “This was evident in the many years she spent working to develop the culture and trade infrastructure and economic environment of the islands.”
Vanterpool said, as the representative for the Fifth District, she worked tirelessly to improve it and was not “shy about making her voice heard on other matters affecting the entire territory.”
Heavy hearts
Members of the opposing Virgin Islands Party (VIP) also expressed that their ‘hearts are heavy’ with the sad news.
They described the honourable Christopher as a courageous, vibrant, and passionate leader.
“She will be deeply missed. May God comfort her entire family at this time,” the VIP said.
“… A sad day indeed,” Leader of Opposition Andrew Fahie said while also extending his ‘deepest sympathy’ to her family.
Tributes have also been pouring in outside the local political community and a number of residents have taken to social media to honour the now-deceased legislator.
The Honourable Christopher
Christopher is originally from Long Look but resided at the Mount Healthy Estate on Tortola.
She served as the Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly and had an expansive public service career including as the Head of the Trade Investment and Promotions Department.
She was first elected into parliament about 15 years ago and left behind a husband, three children, and other family and friends.
BVI News understands that before her passing she was suffering from illness and recently returned from abroad where she was believed to be receiving medical attention.
Christopher died at her Mount Healthy home on Tuesday afternoon.
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I grew up in an era when the parents of Honorable Christopher were an integral and respected part of our community, and an ever presence in our local church each Sunday, the Long Look Methodist Church.
Honorable Christopher came from a humble and God fearing background. Every time I saw or heard of her, I was always reminded of how far she had come and traveled from Long Look. She represented one of the best who came out of Long Look; she really loved this country, and was a true BVI Islander at heart.
She will be missed. I trust in honor of her legacy and advocacy that other women of the younger generation will follow in her footstep to make the BVI a better place for all.
May she rest peacefully, and may her family take some comfort in knowing that she worked for what she believed and dedicated her life to helping this country in the way she saw fit.
May God bless her soul. In her memory, I dedicate this song:
The BVI is so good at smashing people down when they are alive and then honoring them as great people when they pass away. Very sad.
EXACTLY!!! It wasnt so long ago when she was treated as a clown show but now she is a Patriot. Dangerous sickening people.
Condolences to her family.
That’s life. What you just wrote is often true, but your timing to say this is bad. Honorable Christopher was a politician, and there is no politician who does not or have not had their share of critics.
If there were people “smashing” her down for personal reasons when she was alive, they have to live with themselves. On the other hand, if there were people doing so for political reasons, that was expected as criticism/disagreement is part and parcel of being a politician. No politician is immune.
Criticism of her work does not necessarily equate to who she was as an individual. In death, regardless of any issue, the decent thing to do is to put all differences aside, leave the past behind, express our condolences to surviving family, and move on.
This should not be a moment for any division; it serves no purpose. Let us celebrate the very productive life of Honorable Christopher, express our condolences to her surviving family at this time, and let by gone be by gone.
Her journey on this earth has ended. Let us remember her in the most positive way, and give her a well deserved and earned homecoming.
you’re so right. I can’t think of anyone the bloggers especially have not tried to pull down. Yeah of course, when a person passes, they turn their tongue. Its called phonies or hypocrites, and we are good for that.
Mrs. Christopher was a woman who spoke just what she felt with no apology. If she could have done more for this country and the 5th district, she would have done a lot more. When she ran into you in the street, she never acted as if she was bigger than you. She listened, she helped, she loved
I mourn with those who mourn and extend condolences.
agreed!
My condolenses to the families of the late HOnourable Delores Christopher . I was very saddened when I read her passing last evenning. We worked together in the old Administration Building years ago before she entered in the political Arina. May God comfort her family. MYrna Fonseca
ALL YOU WHO LIKE PULL DOWN PEOPLE TO FEEL A LITTLE GOOD FOR YOURSELF. YOU CAN DROP DEAD NOW!!! YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHETHER YOU LIVE TODAY. STOP USING ALL YOU DIRTY TONGUE TO PULL DOWN OTHERS. STOP IT! RESPECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS! STOP WASTING YOU LIFE TO TRASH GOD CREATIONS. LET PEOPLE BE. STOP BEING A DEMON WITH YOU WICKED WAYS. ARTHRITIS MIGHT CRIPPLE YOU FINGERS FOR EVERY BAD WORD. YOU MIGHT GET MOUTH DISEASE FOR EVERY BAD WORD. NOW LET THE HONOURABLE WOMAN OF CULTURE REST IN PEACE. TAKE CARE OF YOU SELF AND FAMILY AND SHUT YOUR MASSES.