Lion President Floyd Campbell is the newly installed president for the Lionistic year 2026/2027. Photo: Facebook

In congratulatory remarks, Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) praised the incoming president and lauded the value of visible, positive role models for young Virgin Islanders. Photo: VINO/File

Guest speaker, the Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, highlighted the practical influence of Lions’ work. Photo: Internet Source

Lion President Floyd Campbell, MJF is pictured with his new Board at the Lion's Club of Tortola's first General Meeting for the 2026/2027 Lionistic Year which began on July 1, 2026. Photo: Facebook

Newly installed President Lion Floyd Campbell, MJF, outlined a compassionate, community-driven agenda for the year, saying service “is more than organising projects, attending meetings, or raising funds. True service begins with compassion. It is inspired by kindness, strengthened by empathy, and expressed through a genuine desire to improve the lives of others.”

'Lions are feeding the hungry'

He added that serving from the heart restores hope and reminds people they are “seen, valued, and never alone,” whether Lions are feeding the hungry, supporting youth, assisting seniors, protecting vision, caring for the environment, or helping families in need.

President Campbell invited club members and community partners to deepen their involvement, noting the club’s strength lies not in its size but in member unity, volunteer dedication, and generosity. He appealed to the business community, civic leaders and residents to support the club through sponsorship, volunteering, partnerships or membership.

New directors

The 2026/2027 Board of Directors:
Floyd Campbell, MJF — President
Winnette Lawrence, MJF — 1st Vice President
Jeremy Liburd — 1 Year Director
Ziri Dyett — 2 Year Director
Troy K. Christopher — 2 Year Director
Myrna Samuels — Service Chairperson
Marcia Lyght-Robin — Marketing Chairperson
Noida Meade — Membership Chairperson
Marvin Grant, PMJF, PCC — Secretary
Kyle Ricketts — Leo Advisor
Sherry-Ann James — Treasurer
Simon Potter, PMJF — Tamer

‘Positive role models’-Premier Wheatley

In congratulatory remarks, Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) praised the incoming president and lauded the value of visible, positive role models for young Virgin Islanders.

"I have seen first-hand the impact that ordinary men and women have on the fabric of our society, and certainly expect wonderful things from Lion Floyd Campbell. I especially like to see when we have men step into these roles because our young Virgin Islander males need as many positive examples as possible and certainly Lion Floyd Campbell will provide that example along with the other members of the Lions Club."

Premier Wheatley also encouraged all members of the community to get involved with service-related organisations and help make the Territory the best place that it can possibly be.

He shared, "Patriotism is not measured in the amount of money we have, patriotism is not measured by the size of our social circle, and patriotism is not measured by the number of generations of ancestry that we have in the Virgin Islands. True love of the Virgin Islands is measured by service-what we do, especially what we are not paid to do, for our fellow man and fellow woman, so I encourage all Lions this year to really serve with heart."

‘Lions build solutions’- Hon Sharie B. de Castro

Guest speaker, the Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, highlighted the practical influence of Lions’ work. “Lions build solutions and quietly ask, ' What can I do?” she said, adding that "Your service matters not because every project changes the whole world, but because every project changes someone's world."

“The measure of a Lion is not found in the sound of its roar; it is found in the lives of those that become stronger because it was there,” she told attendees, thanking the club for noticing needs others overlook and for prioritising impact over attention.

The Lions Club of Tortola has served the Virgin Islands for 54 years. Its signature projects include the annual Christmas Food Drive and Christmas Food Baskets Initiative, Christmas Toy Drive, Young Men’s Summit, Eye Screening Project, and the Drones in Schools programme in collaboration with DRIFT Enterprises Ltd.