Local

Newest Centenarian, Collie Lovell

One of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Collie Lovell, affectionately known as “Ma” or “Aunt Sis”, celebrated her milestone with friends and family at the Church Hall of Holy Innocents on Monday, October 30, 2023.

President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, visited with the centenarian at the Church Hall.

Mrs. Lovell, when asked by Her Excellency what contributed to her longevity and youthfulness, said: “I trust in God with all my heart and I lean on His own understanding.”

Tributes were paid by three of the centenarian’s children, Samuel, Margaret and John Lovell.

Samuel said his mum, though “humble, poor, and uneducated, became feisty, rich and scholarly in her twilight years; [and] what she missed out on academically, she made up with her thriftiness”.

He shared that his mother was “fitting out brides” at age 15; was an agriculturalist (growing crops and rearing animals) “providing food for her family and friends from her small plot of land at the back [of the house]. The centenarian was also a meat supplier to a number of clients, including the Abattoir and Julie ‘N Supermarket.

Mr. Lovell further noted that at age 96, his mother was the oldest athlete to participate in the National Senior Games, and had earned an array of medals and awards, but retired from the competition due to COVID-19.

The centenarian, who attends church whenever she could, was active in the Mothers’ Union, serving as a deputy in the Mothers’ Union, and sang in a number of choirs across the island. She also performed on stage, with persons such as Winston Farrell.

Mrs. Lovell worked at Bar Pac, as a production worker, joining in 1976, until her retirement at age 60. Throughout all of this, she continued with her farming and marketing and the pursuit of various interests.

Born in Sturges, St. Thomas, Mrs. Lovell attended what is now called Holy Innocents Primary School but left school early to look after her siblings, giving up her dream to be a teacher.

Centenarian Mrs. Collie Lovell (seated) surrounded by her children (left to right) Samuel Lovell, Joseph Lovell, Margaret Lovell, Phillip Lovell, and Oscar Lovell (seated)

Her daughter, Margaret, noted that even though her mother missed out on an education, the centenarian took that spirit of learning with her through the years and acquired many skills through application and experience.

After hearing about the work and contribution of Mrs. Lovell throughout the years, Her Excellency shared that she hoped the centenarian would be nominated for the upcoming “Builders of Barbados” National Award. Dame Sandra also noted that Barbadians “owe a great debt” to nation builders, such as Mrs. Lovell.

Her Excellency presented the centenarian with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine, and a personalised card. Mrs. Lovell moved to My Lord’s Hill in 1955 and then to Arthur Seat, St. Thomas, in 1960, where she currently resides.

She was married to Joseph Lovell, who passed away in 1998, at the age of 75. The couple had eight children; six (five boys, one girl) are alive today. She has 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Local

One Family hamper drive gets $75,000 boost from Sandy Lane Charitable Trust

Christmas 2024 just got a lot brighter for the 1000 families of the One Family programme under the Ministry of People Empowerment & Elder Affairs (MPEA), thanks to a donation of BBD. 75,000.00 worth of grocery hampers from the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SLCT).

Representatives of SLCT, including Derrick Smith, Grand Patron and founding Trustee, Trustee Pippa Challis, and Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, were recently at One Family’s Warrens office to present the donation to the One Family Project Team. Present to receive the donation were Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel and Project Officer Lisa Holder.

Minister Humphrey commended SLCT and thanked its Board of Trustees for their ongoing work in Barbados, and specifically with his Ministry, noting that such partnerships could help break cycles of generational poverty in Barbados.

“The government of Barbados is passionate about the objectives of this One Family project, and we believe in what we are doing. We see One Family as the first initiative with the potential to break the inter-generational cycles of poverty, a purpose and objective that traditional government agencies were not designed for. Traditional approaches have not been holistic enough, and One Family gives the first real opportunity to break that poverty exchange between generations,” Minister Humphrey said.

Commenting in response, Trustee Pippa Challis said SLCT was pleased with the ongoing amazing partnership with MPEA. She said One Family had positively impacted SLCT’s work regarding due diligence and background investigations necessary to make the outreach work more effective.

“Our partnership with the One Family Programme Team is truly beneficial to both organisations, as we work towards one common goal of achieving social change. Our ability to rely on the One Family team to provide accurate, timely and reliable information means that our assistance can reach the most deserving families. Whether it is providing beds, back-to-school supplies or food vouchers, we know that we are reaching the right families. That’s why this collaboration works for us, as much as it works for you.” Mrs Challis, further commends the team on their success with the programme thus far and the amazing job they are doing.

One Family Project Manager, Nicole Daniel, said the SLCT donation would significantly boost this year’s hamper donation drive, bringing much-needed supplies and tangible Christmas cheer to the 1,000 families and hundreds of children currently served by the Programme.

“One Family is not a hand-out programme but concentrates on holistic transformation to help every family reach a stage where they can give back to their communities and Barbados.” (PR)

Caption: Pictured from left are SLCT Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, One Family Project Officer Lisa Holder, SLCT Trustee Pippa Challis, Derrick Smith, SLCT Grand Patron and founding Trustee, People Empowerment Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, and Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel.

Local

Men’s programmes lighting the way with support from Light & Power

Barbadian men are stepping up to mentor and inspire a new generation of male leaders to reach their full potential and light the path to a brighter future.

On International Men’s Day recently, two such organisations were recognised and supported with financial donations from the Barbados Light & Power Company (Light & Power). The Rites of Passage: Boys to Men program, led by Anthony Seale and Reverend Derick Richards of the James Street, Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church, and the Purpose 180 Foundation, founded by Nigel Jules, were both lauded for their contributions during a presentation held at Light & Power’s Garrison, St. Michael Headquarters. Both organisations spoke about the impactful initiatives they have established to support young men in Barbados.

Light & Power said it was pleased to support programs focused on mentoring and uplifting at-risk young men.

“These programs are crucial in empowering young men to reach their full potential, and Light & Power is pleased to support and partner with initiatives like Rites of Passage and Purpose 180 that actively work to create brighter futures for the next generation of young male leaders.”

Both programs focus on mentorship, character building, and equipping young men with tools to overcome challenges and achieve personal and professional growth. (PR)

Caption: Light & Power employees, including at left, Communications Advisor Adriel Richard, and to the right, Chano Belle, Manager, Finance (Supply Chain) and Curtis Brewster, Supervisor, Dispatch and Quality Control, with visiting organisation representatives Nigel Jules of the Purpose 180 Foundation (second from left), and Reverend Derick Richards and Anthony Seale of the “Rites of Passage: Boys to Men (BTM) programme” of the James Street/Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church in Barbados (at centre)

Local

Yearwood wins first 5k Run/Walk

Kristian Yearwood won the inaugural 5k Run/Walk to Help 5k held on Sunday. He clocked 21:36 in the running race, 2nd place went to Ralf Luther in a time of 22:05, followed by Fr. Andy Nyga in 3^rd with a time of 23:40. The top three runners in the female segment were Adeline Lamorell,27:17, Phillipa Sylvester, 30:46 and Sumaya Desai, 47:22.

The event was organized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown and is a fund raiser for church’s ministry to the poor in our community as well as to assist the Child Card Board. What started last year as a fun walk now features competitive 5k races in running and walking. The blend of race running and walking along with fun walking should see the event attacking a cross section of participants.

Anderson Maughan was the winner in the walk race in the male segment with a time of 30:59, he was followed by Anthony Phillips in 34:50 and Akil Bryan in 37:40. Angela Jackson crossed the line in 36:31 to win the female walk race she was followed by Fay Waithe in 40:42 and third place was taken by Mary Moseley in 41:57.