BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TWO men, Fire Sub-Officer Roosevelt Howe and Pastor Desmond Herbert, were pleasantly surprised recently when they received unexpected visits from gift-bearing staff of Digicel (St. Kitts) who had named them Extraordinary Dads for 2014.
Though Father’s Day is being celebrated today (Jun. 15), the surprises were sprung on the unsuspecting men on Friday, last.
While Howe was at the Basseterre Branch of the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Department, Digicel’s Marketing Manager Marsha Chatterjee and two of her staffers snuck in and delivered his Father’s Day gift.
“I just want to say Happy Father’s Day to you. We read about your story on SKNVibes and we just thought that you are such an extraordinary person…,” Chatterjee told Howe.
His gifts included a $500 cheque, a Blackberry Curve with $100 credit and a cake which bore the words “Extraordinary Dad”.
“We knew from the start of the month of June that we wanted to surprise extraordinary dads…We have been looking online and definitely Mr. Howe’s article jumped out at us because we recognise that, inspite of any physical disability that he has, he still continues to provide for his family in a tangible way by being gainfully employed.
“We just wanted to congratulate him and the other dads who should use Mr. Howe as an example of how you can be a survivor and a victorious person inspite of your physical circumstances,” Chatterjee expressed.
Though appearing to withhold his emotions, Howe could not help but express his gratitude to Digicel for its humanitarian gesture.
“This caught me by surprise! I never expected anything like this and, to see they spoke about the article...people are really looking at it. As I said before, I see myself as a normal person, normal living with nothing special. I really want to thank Digicel because I never expected it. I will continue being myself and doing what I am doing.”
Later than day, Chatterjee and her team caught up with Pastor Herbert at his family-owned and operated Fancy Loaf Bakery in Bird Rock.
He was named Digicel’s “Community Dad and Mentor” for 2014 and his gift package also included a Blackberry, a $500 cheque and an “extraordinary” cake.
The businessman, Pastor, owner and operator of a soup kitchen, was also surprised and thankful for Digicel’s consideration.
