McKenzie L.K. Baltimore Snr & Edris O’Neal among NLBC honourees
Tears flowed from the eyes of Mr Baltimore Snr but also from a woman who admitted that crying is not something that comes easy for her, Reverend Edris O’Neal, OBE.
The pews of the NLBC were filled to the overflow as hundred of church members, family and relatives of the honourees and special guests took time out to salute the four who were deemed persons worthy of the accolades bestowed on them.
It was especially emotional to hear the story of Mrs O’Neal, a woman who is well revered, as she spoke with watery eyes of her struggles to recover from illness over the past year. She told the congregation that her condition, spinal in nature, had rendered her motionless for some time but it was her determination, faith in God and no less the prayers of persons that made it possible for her to walk and stand before the audience a stronger woman.
For Mrs Donovan, the memories of her life as a community person serving especially in the education sector and opening her doors to becoming the mothers of many especially those who can attest to converging at her Carrot Bay home for Sunday feasts, took centre stage.
On the side of Mrs Donavan-Glasgow, she was said, among several other things, to have been a trailblazer of her time as she was called to create a new school that would serve as a feeder school to the larger Althea Scatliffe Primary School.
And while the young boys of MALE took to the stage and held on to the surprise honouree, Mr Baltimore Snr, there needed to be no more said as tears is not a language only God understands. Mr Baltimore is considered a mentor for young people.
Among the special guests were Speaker of the House of Assembly Honourable Ingrid A. Moses, Leader of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3), Deputy Governor Mrs V. Inez Archibald and Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R3).
All four honourees were given the opportunity to express their gratitude to the NLBC for the honour bestowed on them but their stories were told by those who know them best, excerpts of which we share with you below.
Mr McKenzie Baltimore Snr, as read by his daughter
Dad, I am sure that you are surprised by your nomination and selection as the NLBC surprise honouree, but may I say boldly that we are not surprised because an honour like this, for all that you have done for so many people, is long overdue. Yet, I know that the humble man that you are would receive this today and still think of yourself as not worthy of it, but you are.
McKenzie L.K. Baltimore snr was born on May 16, 1954 in Liberta, Antigua. A true Antiguan man, he is energetic and effervescent as the golden sun on the Antigua flag, passionate and feisty as the red of the flag and also as calm and serene as the flag’s blue colour. The Antigua flag also has one other design element that is also synonymous with my father; there is a distinct V which means victory for the people of Antigua. Victory is a mark of positivity and my dad is one of the most positive people that I know.
Married for 32 years to Mary Baltimore, my mommy, he is the father of five, grandfather to five and sibling to seven brothers and three sisters.
Professionally, his first job was as a baker and then in 1980 he migrated to the BVI and became ingrained in the community as a Police Constable and later retired as a Chief Inspector after 29 years of service in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force where he worked in the Drug Unit, as a Court Prosecutor, an Inspector and Chief Inspector at all stations. Even in retirement he continues to work as a Truancy Officer, Chairman of the Drug Advisory Council and as the owner of Baltimore's Collection Agency (BCA).
Mrs Belsadys Donovan- read by Anthea Smith
She is the quintessential Phenomenal Woman, a woman short in stature but larger than life in personality. But there is one word that fully captures the essence of Belsadys Donovan and that word is “gardener”.
She is a gardener because she likes digging in the soil, deep moist dirt, planting seeds and slips, cultivating, nurturing and caring for them until they blossom, radiant, splendid, bearing fruit. Some of the seeds are often tender and have to be handled with care, others are being strangled by weeds that she has to rip from around them, others are natural bloomers and all they require is a little water to grow, while others require more fertiliser for nourishment.
Belsadys Donovan is a gardener who continues to relish in the fruits of her labour – her beautiful garden. The seeds she planted in the garden of life were young minds, her students, who were entrusted in her care. These seeds she planted are now flourishing throughout the (British) Virgin Islands and around the globe. In her garden, there are all types and varieties of magnificent blooms -- business owners, electricians, mechanics, legal secretaries, postmistresses, athletes, teachers, accountants, musicians, queens, lawyers, administrators, doctors, plumbers, designers, ministers, carpenters and more.
‘Teacher Bell’, the gardener, planted her first seeds in 1957 in a beautiful cane garden at the Cane Garden Bay Primary School, then housed in the Methodist Church. It was there also that she too started her education, which she continued at the Virgin Islands Secondary School in Road Town.
She received her teacher education from the University of Newcastle and from the University of Lancaster, both in the United Kingdom, and obtained other related certificates and courses throughout her career.
‘Teacher Bell’ has been tending to her garden for close to 60 years. One would be hard-pressed to walk into any office or business in the BVI and find a student who was not nurtured in Teacher Bell’s garden. She has taught at most primary schools in Tortola, from West End to East End, with the exception of a few. She also taught at the BVI High School – Technical and Vocational School. She is a past member, Assistant Secretary and Assistant President of the BVI Teachers Union and member of the BVI Reading Council.
Always wanting her students to do their best and succeed, her teaching was not confined to the classrooms. There were always students in her home; students were regularly found at her dinner table, getting extra lessons on weekday evenings and on weekends. Her home was always open and students welcomed the opportunity to stay over at Teacher Bell’s house. (I spoke in past tense, but she still has students coming to her home for tutoring).
She distinguished herself as a long-serving teacher and Principal of the Capoon’s Bay Primary School (now Lenora Delville) and also Principal of the Isabella Morris Primary School. Her reputation for getting academic excellence from her students was such that parents from all over the island fought to get their children into the Isabella Morris Primary School to be under ‘Teacher Bell’s hands.’ They were duly rewarded. As an example, she led the Isabella Morris Primary School to be the first public school to gain 100 percent passes in the Primary Five Exams.
She aimed to expose her students to creative thinking, new technologies and different experiences. When desktop computers were just going mainstream in the mid 1980s, she made sure that Isabella Morris was the first school equipped with a resource centre/computer lab, although she herself also had to be taught how to use a computer.
Very much from the old school, where teachers were respected and revered because they truly cared for their students, Teacher Bell really believes she has the right to counsel, guide, correct and mother any young person she meets. One disapproving look - that look – from Teacher Bell leaves even the boldest and rudest trembling. And as for her sharp tongue, it’ll cut the tallest down to size.
Her nature and calling is to be generous, so she gives of her time and resources freely. For many years she served as a church leader in the Methodist Church – Sunday School Teacher, Choir Director, Class Leader, Steward, Seamstress and other duties in the BVI community.
Although, she officially “retired” from teaching 20 years ago, she continued teaching full-time up until 2013. These days she’s at the Isabella Morris Primary School two days a week, helping students with reading.
Today, she continues to enjoy gardening. But, honestly, Teacher Bell loves gardening and is literally a prize-winning gardener. She has what is perhaps the most beautiful garden in Carrot Bay.
If she was to really retire, she would do more gardening and go on more cruises – she’s already been all around the Caribbean, Mexico and as far as Hawaii.
Teacher Bell is most content when her house is bursting at the seams and there is not a spare seat in the house for Sunday lunch. Every Sunday she puts on the biggest spread and all are welcomed at her table. Shout out from the Sunday lunch crew!
At the young age of 75, Teacher Bell, the Gardener can often be found at home, dancing and singing along with another of her favourite songs, “As I go along life’s journey, reaping better than I sowed, I’m drinking from my saucer, for my cup has overflowed. Haven’t got a lot of riches, sometimes the going gets tough, but I’ve got a friend in Jesus that makes me rich enough. I thank God for all my blessings and the mercies he’s bestowed, I’m drinking from my saucer, because my cup has overflowed”.
Mrs Edris O’Neal, OBE, read by Ms Kymianne Frett
Edris O’Neal is one of eleven children born to the late Alexander and Miriam Christopher in the village of Todman’s, Tortola. She attended the Road Town Primary School and later the British Virgin Islands Secondary School, graduating with a Division 2 Cambridge School Leaving Certificate and a GCE O Level in 5 subjects. Edris loved sports and took part in every sporting activity that was available at the time. She was the champion athlete for four years being the only student in her time to receive the prestigious VictrixLodorum Award for four years in succession.
Mrs O’Neal was, from childhood, deeply associated with the Methodist Church and moved through the ranks, becoming a Sunday school teacher, Leader of the Life Boys (the junior section of the Boys Brigade) and Secretary of the Youth Fellowship. Shortly after leaving secondary school she completely surrendered her life to Christ in an Evangelistic Service and accepted the call to become a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church. In time she also accepted the call to full- time service in the church and spent three years at the United Theological College in the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. She graduated with a Licentiate in Theological Studies from the United Theological College of the West Indies and was appointed to the Georgetown Circuit of the Guyana District in South America for three years. She also served for a short period in the Panama/Costa Rica District.
She was later transferred to the Leeward Islands District, this time serving the BVI Circuit. Her work included that of Religious Instructor at the BVI High School as well as Pastor of the Sea Cow’s Bay Congregation and Women’s Coordinator for the entire Circuit.
Her thirst for the pursuit of knowledge caused her to embark on another programme of study, this time in the U.S.A. where she completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree graduating “Suma Cum Laude” and subsequently the Master of Arts in School Administration. Upon completion of post graduate studies Reverend O’Neal returned to the (British) Virgin Islands where she has remained active with the church to this day and has served in such capacities as Pastor, Co-ordinator for Women’s Work and taking regular preaching appointments.
Reverend O’Neal has always been involved in some aspect of community life. She served in several organisations and committees, including the Teaching Service Advisory Committee, the Society for the Blind, the Mental Health Committee, the Police Advisory Committee, the St Georges School Board and the BVI Scholarship Committee. In August of 2010 Mrs O’Neal retired from the position of Director of the British Virgin Islands Red Cross. This is an organisation in which she worked very diligently guiding its affairs for over 22 years. This organisation has grown in scope to one that is quite successful today, and is very much respected and highly regarded.
For her service to the community she was awarded the Humanitarian Award by the BVI Hotel and Commerce Association in 2001, the Citizen of the Year by the Lions Club of Tortola in 2008, a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Tortola in 2009 and the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Her Majesty, the Queen in 2003. She was also honoured by the league of British Virgin Islanders in St Thomas and several of the groups with which she has worked over the years. Just recently, she was awarded the British Red Cross Society’s Badge of Honour for Distinguished Service.
Mrs Eugenie Donovan-Glasgow, read by Godson Kenrick Headley Jr
A trailblazer of her time, Mrs Glasgow was then called to create a new school that would serve as a feeder school to the larger Althea Scatliffe Primary School. So, history will also record that she organised and became the first principal of the Road Town Infant School now the Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary School which exist today as the only separate public kindergarten school in the Territory as all other schools house their infant sections as part of the main primary school. As we continue to note history, Mrs Glasgow also worked at the BVI High School, now the Elmore Stoutt High School as a teacher and then later became the first librarian of that institution
Dedicated to education in all aspects, Mrs Glasgow later joined the Department of Education as an Education Officer with responsibility for examinations among other duties. In 1990, she was assigned to the Chief Minister’s Office as Assistant Secretary, where one of her responsibilities was to serve as Desk Officer for the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. In 1992, this affiliation with the College led to Mrs Glasgow being physically assigned at the College as the Director of the Learning Resource Centre, where she was responsible for the Library and the Book Store. Mrs Glasgow held this position until her retirement 17 years later.
Her work in this community is not solely seen through her jobs but through her voluntary and appointed service. Mrs Glasgow served on a number of Committees during her career: the Teaching Service Commission, the CXC Local Committee, Friends of the National Archives and the Healthy Aging Committee. She actually started a Girl Guide Company in West End and now serves as a member of the Girl Guide Council. Mrs Glasgow is an active member of the BVI Red Cross where she served as Secretary then Treasurer for over 20 years and remains a member of the Board of Governors. She also continues to serve as a Relieving Officer with the Social Development Department.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
7 Responses to “McKenzie L.K. Baltimore Snr & Edris O’Neal among NLBC honourees”