The Rotary Club of Road Town has teamed up with the British Navy and Sixth District Representative Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines to repair the house of a well-loved elderly woman of the Purcell community who has been known for her motherly care of those in the community for a number of years. Photo: VINO

They all came together to help Mrs Persis Barker, a native of St. Kitts and Nevis has lived in Tortola for the past 57 years. She is currently 64 years old and resides at Purcell Estate. Photo: VINO

Work ongoing at the house of Persis Barker. Photo: VINO

There certainly was a lot to get done. Photo: VINO

Offloading supplies for the task at hand. Photo: VINO

Removing unwanted items for disposal from the worksite. Photo: VINO

Mrs Persis Barker, a native of St. Kitts and Nevis has lived in Tortola for the past 57 years. She is currently 64 years old and resides at Purcell Estate.

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online, President of the Rotary Club of Road Town Mr Shan Mohamed said that as part of the mandate of the Rotary Club of Road Town 2014-2015 they have projects that allow them to serve the community.

“… and we also want to be seen as very involved by taking on hands on projects. So when the request came for Mrs Barker’s house we felt that it fit exactly into our plans and  here we are, alongside Honourable Maduro-Caines and Her Majesty’s Ship – Royal Navy,” said Mohamed.

“We want to say that this is phase one of the project…we want to come back and do a complete [job] from fencing right down to the trimming of the trees, so it is going to be something that we all will be proud of in the district and in the community,” said Mohamed.

Speaking on the project, Hon Maduro-Caines said that she received a call about the project from the Premier’s Office. “We got together and decided who would do what and here we are,” she said. She called the choosing of Mrs Barker's house for the project a good choice.

“I am glad to be a part of it,” she said, noting that she knows Mrs Barker from going to church with her in Purcell and also knows the woman’s children. “It gives me great pleasure that we can do this for her,” said Hon Maduro-Caines.

Speaking to this news site, Petty Officer John Paul Thompson of the British Naval Vessel ‘Argyll’ said, “We always get a gracious welcome so we like to come in and help the local areas and do what we can.” He said that the ship came with a crew of very wide technical expertise and they will seek to see that the project is completed in good time.