Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

1-year ‘milestone’ for Rotary Club of Central Tortola

1-year ‘milestone’ for Rotary Club of Central Tortola

The very young but dynamic Rotary Club of Central Tortola has had a packed first year of activities, including environmental projects, humanitarian assistance and has grown membership, including the addition of Governor John J. Rankin, CMG.

Dubbed ‘The Action Club’, the Rotary Club of Central was officially chartered on January 15, 2021, with President Ms Nelcia St Jean at the helm.

“Some of our projects started prior to our charter, but we have increased activities since then. Over the past year, we have been fulling the mandate of our board and membership along with ensuring that we adhere to Rotary International’s bylaws. It has certainly been a hectic first year of service to the community, but it has also been fun and rewarding, especially our meetings which are held twice monthly,” Ms St Jean stated.

The club inducted Governor Rankin as an Honourary Member at the club’s Rotary Foundation fundraiser event, Cocktails and Canapés which was held at Brandywine Estate Restaurant.

“We are pleased with the support received from residents and our community partners that include Delta Petroleum, Nagico Insurances and FLOW. Through their support, we are able to execute our goals. We have also delivered for the community within the BVI Rotary family where our members assisted the Government with its vaccination drive at the peak of COVID-19,” St Jean stated.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Past President and Membership Chair, Mr Shan Mohamed.

It’s a milestone that we are extremely pleased about because you can imagine the challenges forming a new club and then the challenges keeping a new club together during very difficult times, in terms of COVID, the economic situation and so forth.”

Snapshot of Completed Projects


Mr Mohamed noted that the Club was able to maintain its core objectives, such as focusing on the environment. This included planting mangroves in Manuel Reef and over 100 coconut trees in Brewers Bay.

The club also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) to support young entrepreneurs through training and a shark tank initiative to pair with investors.

Ms St Jean expressed gratitude to the community for supporting the club’s first annual car raffle which concluded in December. According to St Jean, funds from the raffle will be used to undertake major projects in health and education this year.

Additionally, the club introduced students to a story writing competition that is spearheaded by the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020. A student from the Seventh-day Adventist School won and a special presentation will be held this year as the winning entry will be published in the regional Butterfly storybook.

The President also shared that the club is pleased to have donated a significant amount of food items to the Family Support Network (FSN), a SmartBoard to Ebenezer Thomas Primary School and toys to hundreds of children.

‘A family club’


Meanwhile, Mr Mohamed shared that the club was able to retain its membership it started out with in 2021 and has grown to 32 members.

He said the Rotary Club of Central Tortola allows participation from a wide cross-section of people in the community to join and participate. “We have created a club where the entire BVI can be a part of if they choose to.

He said one of the objectives is to bring members together as a family.

“We believe if you strengthen relationships you will also get persons to be more committed to Rotary and the ideals of serving the community and the wider world.

‘An investor club’


Mr Mohamed reiterated; however, that one of the main goals is making the club an investor in the VI.

“I have said it before, we can’t all keep going to the same VI community without outstretch hands trying to raise money. There is only so much you can raise because there are other clubs doing the same thing. So we have got to find innovate ways to raise funds on a sustainable basis. We want to create revenue generation.

He said plans are underway for such an undertaking via a public-public partnership.

Additionally, the club has plans to create a natural disaster fund.

‘We want to have lasting impacts on our community,” Mr Mohamed remarked.

The Rotary Club of Central Tortola meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at Village Cay.

Some Members of the Rotary Club of Central Tortola at the club's annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree and presentation of toys to children in Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park on December 22, 2021.


Rotary Club of Central Tortola presented toys to children at Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park on December 22, 2021.


Past President and Membership Chair of Rotary Club of Central Tortola, Mr Shan Mohamed, right, assists with the planting of coconut trees in Brewers Bay.


The Rotary Club of Central Tortola donated a Smart Board to the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School in November 2021.


The Rotary Club of Central Tortola meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at Village Cay.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×