The multi-faceted community development programme, Roots & Resilience: Together We Thrive, presented by the Territorial At-Large Representative, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE, was launched on Friday, 6th December, 2024. The Paint the Town: Community Beautification Project was identified as the firstproject to be implemented. East End along with Long Look and Anegada communities were chosen to be the first recipients of the initiative. Hon. Smith, stated, “The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport is a major point of entry for our visitors. It is imperative that they experience a clean, attractive, environment on their journey to their place of stay. The area prior to the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, joining Beef Island to Tortola was in disarray was prioritised for attention to enhance the arrival experience, for visitors and residents alike.”
The Paint the Town: Community Beautification Project was launched with the collaboration of Eighth District Representative, Hon. Marlon Penn and his community group. The work commenced on Friday 6th December, 2024 and is ongoing.
Hon. Marlon Penn shared, “I am very pleased to support and collaborate with Hon. Lorna Smith on the Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive Programme. This programme provides impetus, resources, and community engagement for the improvement of the East End Community.”
Hon. Penn also stated, “I encourage everyone, community members, old and young, every resident, to come out and participate in all the projects to improve not only your community, but the entire Virgin Islands.”
The Paint the Town: Community Beautification Project invites volunteers and local painters to partner with families living along main roads to repaint fences, gates and walls. This initiative aims to not only revamp the area but also to foster community pride and cooperation in keeping their community vibrant and welcoming, for visitors and themselves.
For the Anegada, East End and Long Look communities, the next steps of preparing the areas identifies for painting will begin as soon as the weather allows, and the drier season commences.
Meanwhile, Hon. Smith noted, “Every effort to liaise with owners of the spaces identified for refurbishment is being undertaken to attain permissions. Additionally, the paint vendors have been extremely supportive of the Project and have offered additional sponsorship and we are very grateful.”
The Paint the Town Community Beautification Project is but 1 of 7 targeted projects for this first year. The others are:
1. Clear the Clutter: Derelict Vehicle Removal Drive
2. Tradition Meets Tomorrow: Home Economics Training
3. Wisdom Week: Senior-led Mentorship for Young Adults
4. Old-time Talk: Cultural Dialect and Slang Mingle
5. Roots & Branches: Plant a Tree for the Future
6. Art from the Heart: Recyclables Competition & Silent Auction
The projects aim to connect and engage constituents across different demographics, including youth, adults, and seniors, on the Sister Islands and the main island of Tortola. This includes every single resident in the Virgin Islands.
Honourable Smith reminds us, “We need to know and understand that Beauty is by Nature. Clean is by CHOICE! We have the power to make the changes needed to return our Virgin Islands to its former heights. We must remember that the Virgin Islands
“Is OUR Place!” and this is a perfect opportunity for us to rebuild our communities.”
Our mission is to create a connected, empowered, and resilient community where every member feels valued and has the opportunity to thrive.
For further information and to be a part of this exciting programme, please contact Brenda Lettsome-Tye at 344-4720, or email us at togetherwethrivevi@gmail.com.
Honourable Smith remains committed to serving all members of the territory and developing vibrant, clean and healthy communities.