UPDATE: Fmr. Miss BVI clears the air on absence at heirloom handover
Ms de Castro was the first queen to receive the coveted pair of Mikimoto styled earrings and necklace on August 16, 2012 in a tradition started last year by the BVI Tourist Board in conjunction with the Little Switzerland jewellery store and gift shop.
According to de Castro, who stated that she is currently overseas, no information was provided to her about the handing over ceremony and she was unaware of any protocol requiring her to be present during the handing over ceremony.
“I was not given an opportunity [to be present at the ceremony], had I known, I could have made a change in my plans or all the stakeholders involved could have come up with a date that was comfortable for everybody,” Ms de Castro stated in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online.
The former Miss BVI stated that she is not upset about the situation but indicated that there may have been a simple misunderstanding due to a lack of proper communication.
She was particularly sensitive about the issue because of alleged information that has reportedly indicated that she has been reluctant to return the pearl set that she had received last year, an issue which she categorically refutes. “I was never informed of a formal handover,” she said.
Miss de Castro further stated that she would like to take this opportunity to show appreciation to the BVI Tourist Board and Little Switzerland for entrusting her with this special gift during her reign. She also stated that she would have loved the opportunity to personally present the beautiful pearl set to the new ambassador.
See previous story posted on August 16, 2013:
Miss BVI receives traditional gift of pearls from Little Switzerland
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Miss BVI 2013/14 Rosanna K. Chichester has begun her reign with the fine attributes and kind gestures that go with the prestigious crown.
The new queen was presented with a Mikimoto pearl set from Little Switzerland yesterday, August 15, 2013.
The gift set comprised of a necklace and a pair of earrings valued at $3,000.00.
The company, which is said to possess the finest jewellery in the Virgin Islands, made the presentation in keeping with its commitment to the promoters of the pageant. The simple presentation ceremony was done in the show room of Little Switzerland.
Regional Manager of Little Switzerland, Mr Kash Jagyasi said pearls are royal and most fitting for the queen. He said ideally they wanted the outgoing queen Ms Shari B.Y. deCastro to do the symbolic presentation but this wasn’t possible due to her being off island at the time.
Public Relations Officer of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Ms Lynette L. Harrigan expressed heartfelt gratitude to the management of Little Switzerland for honouring its commitment as they continue to build on their partnership.
Ms Rosanna K. Chichester was crowned the new queen of the Virgin Islands on August 4, 2013 at the Multi-Purpose Complex. Among the many gifts and prizes that she would enjoy during her reign are trips to international pageants, a scholarship, travel to Germany with the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB) and a year's subscription of Time Magazine.
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22 Responses to “UPDATE: Fmr. Miss BVI clears the air on absence at heirloom handover”
IN THE END I THOUGHT THE PEARL BELONGS TO YOU, NOT KNOWING YOU HAVE TO PASSED IT ON TO THE OTHER PERSON, WHAT A WASTE OF JOY TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PEARL BEING SWEAT AROUND SOMEONES NECK TO PASSED IT ON.
I agree with wellsa, if Little Switzerland is so premeire then why is it required to hand over a 'used' set of jewellery, is not the 'new' queen deserving of a 'new' set that in a year's time she will not have to hand over? Did she not work hard enough to earn them? I could have understood, if they wanted the former queen to present the new queen with a fresh set of pearls, not a used set.