MOTHER AND FATHER OF THE YEAR FOR 2010 ARE OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED

Tuesday July 13, 2010

The search for the Territory’s 2010 Mother and Father of the Year officially ended on Sunday when Mrs. Evelyn Christopher and Mr. Raymond “Chi Chi” Fonseca were recognised during a ceremony at The Moorings that was hosted by the Office of the Premier and the Ministry of Health and Social Development.

Mrs. Christopher and Mr. Fonseca each received a cheque for $5,000 from the Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE on behalf of the Government and people of the Virgin Islands. Plaques were also presented to them by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn OBE, QC.

Several members of the House of Assembly were present to join family and friends of the winners during the ceremony. They included Territorial-At-Large Representatives Honourable Irene Penn-O’Neal, Honourable Keith Flax, and Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, and Fourth District Representative Dr. the Honourable Vincent Scatliffe.

Delivering remarks for the occasion the Premier said, “The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands Party realize that our people should be recognised and be first class citizens in their own little country. Because of that we are committed to doing whatever is necessary to highlight and bring power to our people.”

The Deputy Premier emphasised the important role that families play in society and paid tribute to Mrs. Christopher and Mr. Fonseca both of whom she said were very
deserving of their awards. She said, “On the surface this is a very simple initiative, but it is a very important initiative. It is our hope that this will be an annual event.”

In March this year a nine-member Mother and Father of the Year Committee was appointed under the chairmanship of Mrs. Enid Penn- Charles. For the Mother of the Year Award, we received 13 nomination forms for 11 nominees; while five nomination forms were received for four Father of the Year nominees.

After an extensive evaluation process, the nominees that emerged with the highest scores were recommended for the Mother and Father of the Year Award. The other Father of the Year nominees were Mr. Edric Chinnery, Mr. Benjamin Peters, and Mr. Garfield Smith. Other Mother of the Year Nominees were Mrs. Ruth Barry, Miss Dessica Collins, Mrs. Leona Crabbe, Ms. Lucille Gaskin, Ms. Carren Grant, Mrs. Lenia Hodge, Ms. Nadine Isaac, Mrs. Valerie Lettsome, Mrs. Corrin Rabsatt, and Mrs. Romalia Smith.

In keeping with its policy to develop the Territory and its people in any way possible, the Government in May 2009, for the first time, instituted The Mother of the Year Award. Last year, Mrs. Iris Potter-Vanterpool of Anegada was declared the first Mother of the Year. Subsequently, the decision was taken to institute the Father of the Year Award.