Marilyn Norman Harvey, 76, does her talent piece at the Mr and Ms Senior British Virgin Islands on May 12, 2019. Photo: Team of Reporters

The First Runner Up Ms Senior British Virgin Islands is Marion Scafliffe, who also won Best Cultural Wear. Photo: Team of Reporters

Mr Daniel Blyden, 66, copped the prizes for Mr Intellect, Best Cultural Wear and Best Evening Wear. Photo: Team of Reporters

Nehemia Prince, left, and Mariette Fahie, right, were crowned Mr and Ms Senior British Virgin Islands respectively when the show was held this evening, May 12, 2019 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium in Paraquita Bay, on the main island of Tortola. Photo: VINO

Mr and Ms Senior British Virgin Islands was held by the Social Development Department as part of the activities of Seniors Month 2019, which is being held under the theme, ‘Connect, Create, Contribute’. Photo: Provided

Some of the participants of Mr and Ms Senior British Virgin Islands 2019 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium in Paraquita Bay on May 12, 2019. Photo: VINO

From left: Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), Mr Senior BVI Nehemia Prince, Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL) and Mrs Senior BVI Mariette Fahie. Photo: Team of Reporters

The Territory’s first Mr and Mrs Senior BVI 2019 pageant, which was promoted by the Social Development Department held under the theme “Connect, Create, contribute”, saw a sold out crowd at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay, Tortola, last evening May 12, 2019.

The participants of the historic pageant for the VI were females: Marion Scafliffe, 81, who hails from Long Trench and a mother of nine; Ida Margarita Barry-Pickering, 79, a mother of six from Sea Cows Bay; Marilyn Norman Harvey, 76, of Road Town and Mariette Malone-Fahie, 76, a mother of 4 from the community of Fort Hill, all on the main island of Tortola.

In the male category were Daniel Blyden, 66, of Jost Van Dyke and Nehemiah Prince, 81, from the Major Bay, East End, community.

Winners & reactions

At the end of the evening, Mariette Malone-Fahie and Nehemiah Prince were crowned winners. Ms Malone-Fahie copped the prizes for Ms Intellect, Best Talent and Best Evening Wear. However, there was a bit of silence in the crowd when Mr Prince was announced Mr Senior BVI 2019, having copped the prize for Best Talent, while his challenger Mr Blyden got the prizes for Mr Intellect, Best Cultural Wear and Best Evening Wear.

The First Runner Up for the Ms Senior BVI title was Marion Scafliffe, who also won Best Cultural Wear.

There were mixed reactions from the audience also when the winner for Best Talent in the female category but in the end all the judges’ decisions were final.

Throughout the stage performance, there were some hard to ignore utterances from the audience, such as “Age is really just a number”, “I want be like she when I am 81”, “Bet they are feeling very young again”, “Man, people really supporting seniors thing”, “This is more than bang for my buck, I wouldn’t mind if they had charged $30 instead of $25” and “Hope them young people looking, this is class this is pageant.”

Prizes

The first place prizes for Ms Senior BVI 2019 were five hundred dollars, Alcatel mobile phone, gift certificates from La Ambiance and Cabbage Beauty Spas, gift basket from Top Spot and a gift set and hand purse.

Mr Senior BVI 2019 also got $500 cash, an Alcatel Mobile phone, gift certificates from Choice Cut Barber Shop and La Ambiance Spa, a gift basket and two round trip tickets to Virgin Gorda.

Among other prizes, the First Runner Up in the female category received $300 and two round trips ticket to St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. For the male, it’s a $300 cash prize, two round trip tickets to Jost van Dyke and a spa treatment gift certificate.

All the contestants received a $200 cash prize and an Omar’s Café gift certificate, in addition to the participants’ trophy.

See previous story published May 12, 2019

Prince & Fahie crowed Mr & Ms Senior British Virgin Islands 2019

Nehemia Prince and Mariette Fahie were crowned Mr and Ms Senior British Virgin Islands 2019 respectively when the show was held this evening, May 12, 2019 at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay, Tortola.

Mr Prince was sponsored by C&D Powerboat & Charter Rentals and Goodfellas while Ms Fahie was sponsored by Sixth District Representative Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines.

The other contestants were Ms Marilyn Norman Harvey, Mrs Magarita Barry, Mrs Marion Scatliffe and Mr Daniel Blyden.

Mr and Ms Senior British Virgin Islands was held by the Social Development Department as part of the activities of Seniors Month 2019, which is being held under the theme, ‘Connect, Create, Contribute’.

More details to follow.