Premier Expresses Condolences on Passing of Noel Lloyd

Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE presents Award of Certificate to Mr. Noel Lloyd in October, 2007 for his outstanding contribution to the Territory. Honourable Elvis Harrigan witnessed the ceremony. Mr. Lloyd was also presented with the Badge of Honour.  The Award of Certificate and Badge of Honour are presented to a Virgin Islander who, among other things, has performed an outstanding act of bravery while placing his or her life at risk in the process

“I wish at this time to convey to Mr. Lloyd’s family, especially his two daughters and their mother, on behalf of my wife and the nation, our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences,” the Premier said.

Paying tribute to Mr. Lloyd today, the Premier noted that “we have lost a brave man, a courageous man, a man who fought for principle and who was not afraid to defend his stand for the BVI. In fact Mr. Lloyd was a hero in every respect.”

The late Mr. Lloyd was born in the Virgin Islands (UK) in 1936 and is mostly remembered for the gutsy determination and moral courage he displayed in pursuing the annulment of a development project which would have placed large parts of Road Town and Anegada beyond the reach of local people.

Through the formation of the Positive Action Movement, Mr. Lloyd led the opposition to the 1960s agreement between the local government and the Bates Hill Company of Britain to reclaim the area around Wickham’s Cay on the basis of a 199 year lease, after buying out the local owner; as well as control of three quarters of Anegada.

Through several public meetings and peaceful protests, PAM under Mr. Lloyd’s leadership succeeded in persuading the Foreign Commonwealth Office to appoint a commission of enquiry and the agreement with Bates was eventually dissolved.

In October last year, the Premier presented Mr. Lloyd with the prestigious Award of certificate and Badge of Honour in October last year in recognition of his contribution to the Territory.

As a tribute to this local hero, the Premier also initiated the re-naming of Palm Grove Park, the Noel Lloyd/ Positive Action Movement Park.

Prior to his formation of PAM, Mr. Lloyd served in the Royal Air Force in the late 1950s and early 1960s after which he lived for four years in Kenya where he owned a tool-making plant before returning to the BVI in the mid 1960s. He has two daughters Sarah Lloyd Gomez and Michelle Lloyd. ~~Adz:Right~~