UPDATE: Family ‘overwhelmed’ @ renaming of Admin Complex after RT O’Neal
The resolution for the renaming was brought to the House of Assembly by Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) during the continuation of the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on October 18, 2019.
The Central Administration Complex will now be known as the Ralph T. O’Neal Complex.
The family of Hon O’Neal did not respond to requests for comments; however, one of the daughters of Hon O’Neal, Abigail O’Neal, wrote on Facebook: “Feeling very overwhelmed tonight as we sit in the gallery at the House of Assembly as the Hon Members "debate" a resolution to rename the Central Administration Complex in honor of my father.”
In the HoA gallery with Ms O’Neal on October 18, 2019 was wife of Hon O’Neal, Reverend Edris O’Neal.
According to reports reaching our newsroom, Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, 85, has been hospitalised for over two weeks.
Hon O’Neal served ‘admirably’
Premier Fahie, in his reflections, brought back vivid memories of the combative relationship between Hon O'Neal and the late Omar W. Hodge.
He said both men passionately had the interest of the territory at heart and from when they started “fighting and championing the causes of the people, you couldn't get in between the two of them."
On a lighter note, Premier Fahie said it was Hon O’Neal who gave him the nickname ‘Bronx Bomber’, which was the moniker of a prolific American boxer in the 1980’s. “He said, Fahie when you get on something you don’t stop."
"It has been a pleasure working with him. He has served and served admirably,” Premier Fahie added.
"He said Fahie always have a good perspective of things," Premier Fahie said, admitting that there was once a time he always had a negative perspective of things.
"And I have learnt from him that once you change your perspective of anything you can find solutions and you can overcome," Premier Fahie shared.
See previous article published October 18, 2019
Gov’t seeks to rename Admin Complex in honour of Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE
The Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1)-led Virgin Islands Government will be tabling a resolution at the continuation of the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) today, October 18, 2019 for the Central Administration Complex to be renamed in honour of the man who gave a majority of his life to public service, Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE.
The resolution will be debated in the House of Assembly today for the HoA Member Emeritus, Hon O’Neal, the first Premier of the Virgin Islands and longest serving Member of Parliament in the English speaking Caribbean, to be honored appropriately.
Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) confirmed to our newsroom minutes ago that he will table the resolution for debate and vote by Members.
That is expected to be done sometime after the HoA lunch recess .
Hon O'Neal, who started his public service career as a school teacher, served over 60 years in public life, including 40 years as an elected representative.
He served in almost every ministry of government and became Chief Minister in 1995, after the death of late Chief Minister, H. Lavity Stoutt.
The news of the renaming plans comes on the heels of reports that Hon O’Neal, 85, has been hospitalised for more than a week.
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24 Responses to “UPDATE: Family ‘overwhelmed’ @ renaming of Admin Complex after RT O’Neal”
"The Chief Minister's suite of offices at the Central Administrative Complex in Road Town is sumptuous. Stoutt was the driving force behind the construction of the spacious, cool and well laid-out building's construction, and it is a great achievement. Built on reclaimed land beside the sparkling waters of Road Harbour, it boasts fountains that work, air conditioning, only the second elevator in the BVI and a tasteful staff restaurant. It all looks towards the 21st century. Representatives of neighbouring Caribbean governments have visited, to cast an eye over and to learn from it. With this complex and the Community College in his name, Stoutt has left important visual evidence of two capital projects for which he could properly claim inspirational credit."
Are there anymore with vision?