Board members Vice President Ms Sasha Flax, Secretary Argel Horton, Treasurer Sheenal Creque, Sergeant-at-Arms Mr Chayne DeFrietas, Director of community service Ms Madonna Daly, Director of Club Service Dayton DeFreitas, Director of International Service Mr Harris Legair and Director of Professional Development Ms Adrianna Soverall. Photo: VINO

Mr Kyle I. Harrigan is the first President Elect to serve the first Rotaract Club to have been formed at Virgin Gorda, Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO

Charter Member and PP Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal who is also the District Representative for the Virgin Gorda communities was on hand to witness the chartering and installation of the first Virgin Gorda Rotary Club. Photo: VINO

Mistress of Ceremonies of the historic occasion Ms Karia J. Christopher. Photo: VINO

Assistant Governor of the VI Family of Rotary Mrs Delma Maduro as she noted the significance of the club’s formation after some 46 years of Rotary in the VI. Photo: VINO

This historic moment was recorded last evening February 1, 2014 on the sister Island at the Rock Café and Sam Piano Bar when the young club was officially chartered and installed by District Governor Mr Jeremy Hurst.

It was a gala event which saw the presence of the hierarchies of the Rotary Family of the Virgin Islands, the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith and First Lady Mrs Lorna Smith, Charter Member and Past President Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE who is also the District Representative for the Virgin Gorda communities, Mistress of ceremonies Ms Karia J. Christopher, Assistant Governor Delma Maduro among others.

Joining the history record last night were the other board members Vice President Ms Sasha Flax, Secretary Argel Horton, Treasurer Sheenal Creque, Sergeant-at-Arms Mr Chayne DeFrietas, Director of community service Ms Madonna Daly, Director of Club Service Dayton DeFreitas, Director of International Service Mr Harris Legair and Director of Professional Development Ms Adrianna Soverall. Twenty others made up the full complement of the club.

The president elect, Mr Kyle I. Harrigan, was seen as a perfect fit and those around him are very confident that his leadership qualities complemented by his board and other members will see the new club maintaining a level that has the potential of being the envy of all the Rotaract Clubs across the Virgin Islands.

The key ingredient to the potential of the new club is the fact that they are a group of young people and the significance of this was alluded to by Premier Smith. “I am always elated when young people make concerted efforts to do something constructive and positive in their lives. More importantly, I am always pleased when they can make themselves available for leadership roles and dedicate themselves to community and international service.”

They were also congratulated by Hon O’Neal who admitted that an attempt to get one such club on Virgin Gorda started some years ago, “…but apparently the time was not right,” stated Hon O’Neal. “However the time is now right and I would like to congratulate these women and men who have decided to take the bold step and form the first Rotary Club on the Island,” he added.

“Let your work speak volumes,” Assistant Governor of the VI Family of Rotary Mrs Delma Maduro as she noted the significance of the clubs formation after some 46 years Rotary in the VI. “Uphold the principles of the four-way test and embrace the strong support structure and available resources...” she challenged.

President Harrigan has committed to 100% service and said that one of the main challenges that they would be undertaking in addition to regular expectations of community services, would entail being a positive influence and role model to other youths on the Island and the Territory at large.

Being elected the president, Harrigan has added to his CV which is already very glowing and includes him being a Senior Tourism Development Officer with the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB), founder member of the Island Rydes’, a member of CADA players, and a basketball referee, just to mention a few.