Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 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
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×