Premier Celebrates with another Centenarian
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| Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE sits with centenarian, Mr. William Hodge during his 100th birthday celebrations in St. Thomas, USVI on Saturday, 25 August, 2008 |
Roadtown, Tortola- Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE has celebrated with another centenarian, the second one this month.On Saturday, the Premier travelled to St. Thomas to be part of the 100th birthday celebrations for Mr. William Hodge, a BVIslander who now resides in the United States Virgin Islands.
Addressing the gathering, the Premier recalled that Mr. Hodge served as a local constable who was responsible for keeping the peace in his village and who was in constant contact with Government providing information on happenings in the village and updating villagers on Government notices.
Expressing his utmost respect for the work of Mr. Hodge and other local constables, the Premier said it was their work that helped to keep the Virgin Islands peaceful.
In addition to his work as a local constable, Mr. Hodge is a former employee of the Public Works Department. Mr. Hodge also engaged in cattle rearing and farming to provide for his five children and now deceased wife.
The Premier described Mr. Hodge as a hard worker. “I am sure the children all have pictures of him and every time they look at him,
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Centenarian, Mr. William Hodge
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they think about how hard this gentleman worked.
Brute force, pick axe, machete and hoe pick, tilling the soil, mining cattle, burning coal is no easy job; it is back-breaking but he did it, all for the benefit of his children.”
The Premier also affirmed Government’s commitment to celebrate with all of the Territory’s centenarians and provided a one-off grant of $5,000 on the occasion.
Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Julian Fraser and Fifth District Representative, Honourable Elvis J. Harrigan accompanied the Premier to the centennial celebration in St. Thomas. ~~Adz:Right~~
British Virgin Islands News