No need to ‘rush’ naming anything after Hon. O’Neal- Hon Fraser
Honourable Walwyn had put forward that something more significant than the Virgin Gorda Festival must be named "and named fast" in honour of Honourable O'Neal.
However, Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) said while the VIP has been known to name things after Virgin Islanders who would have made significant contributions to the development of the territory he doesn’t see the need to be hasty in recognising Hon O’Neal in this way.
“Something fast? I don’t think there is need to rush into naming something after Hon O’Neal. It will happen…You have to make the right decision in naming something and I don’t want anyone to go name something just for the sake of naming it. It has to be something meaningful. We in the Virgin Islands Party have been known to name things after famous people,” Hon Fraser told Virgin Islands News Online when approached for a comment at the Virgin Gorda Easter Parade on April 6, 2015.
Reminding that the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) are just two examples of where the Virgin Islands Party recognised their local stalwarts, Hon Fraser said “I am sure in due course Hon O’Neal will be properly recognised with something named in this honour.”
Hon O’Neal should be knighted- Hon Fahie
Meanwhile, Senior Virgin Islands Party member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) was thrilled that the Festival Committee had named the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival after Hon O’Neal and then to actually hear wonderful things about the former Premier coming out of the mouth of Hon Walwyn at the opening of the Hon Ralph T. O’Neal Festiville.
Hon Walwyn’s praising of Hon O’Neal was in stark contrast to April 2011 when he had described the then Premier as “an emperor without clothes” on the elections campaign trail.
“I was so pleased to hear the Minister [for] Education was able to recognise so many good things about Hon Ralph T. O’Neal and all that he has done in Virgin Gorda and the kind of leader he was.
“I am always one of the advocates that he should be knighted. I am one of the advocates that something should be named after him, and it will happen but I commend him (Walwyn) for what he has done and commend Hon O’Neal for what he has done,” Hon Fahie told Virgin Islands News Online.
About Ralph T. O'Neal OBE
Ralph Tilford O'Neal, OBE, born 15 December 1933 was the first person to be appointed to the newly titled office by the Governor on 22 August 2007 under the Virgin Islands Constitution adopted in 2007 after leading the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) to a landslide victory in the 2007 General Elections two days earlier.
Ralph O'Neal also served a previous term as Chief Minister of the Virgin Islands (as the office was referred to under the old constitution) from 1995 (on the death of H. Lavity Stoutt). He won the next election in 1999, but then subsequently became Leader of the Opposition in the 2003 General Elections, and has held a seat in the House of Assembly, formerly the Legislative Council continuously since 1971. He has since said his time in the House of Assembly will come to a close following the upcoming general elections since he will not be seeking re-election.
Hon 'Neal was educated at University of Oxford where he studied Economics.
Among other infrastructures that have been named in honour of notable VIslanders are Joshua Smith Social Security Building, Auguste George Airport in Anegada, Sir Olva Georges Plaza, Ellis Thomas Downs, Roger Allen Hodge Softball Field in Sea Cows Bay, Althea Scatliffe Primary School, Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium and Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre.
24 Responses to “No need to ‘rush’ naming anything after Hon. O’Neal- Hon Fraser”
Ralph deserve it. And he needs to be alive to see it happen.
We take too long to honor our leaders while they are alive and then when they are dead, we want to honor them. Well, the honoree doesn't know they have been honored if they are dead. I say do it while they are alive and they can feel good about it.
O'Neal whenever we csn.
I am getting brain wash over stupid political mattesr at 53 years then I know something is wrong with me....
WHY???? He know something the rest of us don't?
God forbit walyn c*@zy r@$% get another 4