PHOTOS: Over 300 civil servants awarded at Queen’s celebrations
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Birthday Celebration held at the Queen Elizabeth Park last evening was celebrated with members of the territory’s civil service being awarded for their dedicated service to the Virgin Islands.
Some 353 members of the Virgin Islands Civil Services received platinum jubilee medals. This included 158 members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), 94 members of the Fire and Rescue Services and the BVI Airports Authority, 44 officers from Her Majesty’s Prison, 15 members of the BVI Health Services Authority’s Emergency Medical Technical Unit, and 42 members from the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue.
Police medals
Meanwhile, Dean Robin, Frida Hodge-Deshong, Dervent Murray, Peterson Jno-Lewis, Lesroy Simmons, Jean Avril, Lina Francis-Richardson, Sherry-Ann Lavia-Lennon, and Maud Fahie all received the Overseas Territories Police Service Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct – 18 years.
George Mason, Durville Carry, Rolland Jackson, Vincent John and Denley Simmons all received the First Clasp to the Overseas Territories Police Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct- 25 years.
Jacqueline Vanterpool, Smyrna Brewley, Donna Monsanto, and Mary-Hilda Phillip all received the Second Clasp to Overseas Territories Police Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct – 30 years.
Fire and Rescue
Shermon Tyson received the Overseas Territories Fire and Brigade Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct – 18 years.
Vernon Stevens, Marcus Malone, and Elgin Johnson all received the First Clasp to the Overseas Territories Fire and Rescue Brigade Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct – 25 years.
Alexander Parillon, Samuel Lettsome and Zebalon McLean all received the Second Clasp to Overseas Territories Fire and Rescue for Long Service and Good Conduct – 30 years.
At the ceremony, Governor John Rankin gave remarks on the Queen’s 95th birthday and Her 70th anniversary on the British throne.
“Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in British history and the longest ever reigning female head of state in the world. The queen has been and continues to be remarkable and much loved. There are many reasons for this but the greatest of them is her dedication throughout her reign to service and to people across the world,” Governor Rankin also said.
Inspiration
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, in giving remarks, noted the Queen has been an inspiration to many people across the world because of her astute leadership of the Commonwealth over the years.
“Understandably, there were some concerns on whether Her Majesty was ready and able for the job given her youth and limited experience at the time. There were also a few at the time who openly speculated whether a woman would be capable of leadership given that much of society at the time was male-dominated. She found and harnessed the strength within herself to conquer self-doubt and doubt from others and defeat the fear of uncertainty. She stepped forward with courage and has honed this role for every moment of the last 70 years. The lesson we can learn from Her Majesty is that no matter how daunting the task, once you have done your preparation and you are confident in yourself, press forward with determination,” Dr Wheatley said.
The celebration concluded with the Governor and the Premier planting the jubilee tree – the white cedar which is the territorial tree. There was also the lighting of the beacon to celebrate Her Majesty.
Below are scenes from the event:
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Glad to see from the photos that this jubilee celebration and awards were held in the cool evening and night at the QEII park across from Government House and NOT in the blazing mid day sun at the Festival grounds now car park.
Also glad to see that VISAR personnel claimed some awards this year. Hopefully the UK/BVI government will now provide monetary funding to this volunteer organization that provides real safety of life at sea instead of many useless words on paper like VISR, Customs, RVIPF, BVIPA, etc.
We dont want UK to take over,but we want the party.
You guys,don,t make sense
nothing about the bvi makes sense
Because you invited me to your party and I attend, doesn’t give you the right to take over my affairs. Your advise is welcomed but no UK take ever. We are not children. This territory is growing and what we are going through are growing pains. UK, US and other places have their share of corruption and continue to work through it. However, because we are black you UK people think that you have the right to bully us. 99% of the BS that is being bloged are From UK citizens and people who have their home country to run back to. It is wrong what you all are doing to the BVI. If the BVI had stayed a bird sanctuary like your people predicted you all would not be here today with you all big stick. Do not tell us you come to save us, nobody does anything for anybody for free. UK send the Governor as a representative we pay for that. Uk do not give us more than UK gets from us. Stop trying to intimedate us.
Birds of the brainwashed feather flock together
Behave yourself.
There should have been a list of all those who DIDN’t get a medal. It would have shorter!
It’s called how to curry favour!!
Being rewarded for arrogance.