The New Life Baptist Church has recognized this and will honour a group of 20 people at its 17th Annual Service of Recognition for Virgin Islands Unsung Heroes (Heroes’ Sunday) on Sunday, February 28, 2021.

The 20 selected honourees, NLBC said in a press release on February 25, 2021, were chosen for their acts of service related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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It said this year’s honourees have been broken into five categories: The Frontline Honourees, representing those who were first tasked with measures and procedures to stop the virus from widely spreading throughout the Virgin Islands; The Remedies for Reality Honourees, those who were tasked with assisting and providing for persons in need of groceries and other critical services during the lockdown periods; The Onset and Management Honourees, who were tasked with managing the virus once confirmed cases were announced; The Physical Defense and Border Protection Honourees, who were instrumental in maintaining the safety of residents and the security of our borders and The “New Regular” Honourees, tasked with re-entry protocols, vaccinations and daily virus management.

Honourees

The 2021 Honourees are: Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1)—Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Carvin Malone (AL)—Minister of Health and Social Development, Mrs Tashi O’Flaherty-Maduro—Private Secretary to the Minister of Health and Social Development, Ms Petrona N. Davies—Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ms Adrianna Soverall—Acting Public Health Communication Specialist and Information Officer for the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Dr Irad Potter—Chief Medical Officer, Ms Asha Romney—Accounts Officer, II in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Dr Ronald E. Georges—Former CEO of BVIHSA and Acting Chief Medical Officer, Mr E. Lionel Michael—Chief Environmental Health Officer, Ms Harmonie Brewley-Messiah—National Epidemiologist, Ms Collette McGurdy—Laboratory Manager at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital, Mr Jevaughn J. Parsons—Director of Taxi & Livery Commission (TLC), Ms Jacinth Hannibal—Chief Nursing Officer, Ms Lynette Harrigan—Niche Marketing Manager at the BVI Tourist Board, Ms Felice Swapp—Chairman of Re-opening Steering Committee, Mr Edrick Hypolite—Clerical Officer, BVI Ports Authority, Ms Kedimone Rubaine—Private Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mrs Maudlyn Penn-Richards—Senior Immigration Officer and Ports Supervisor, Mr Wade N. Smith—Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Customs and Chairman of the Joint Task Force and Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4)—Managing Director of One Mart Supermarket.

Largest cohort of honourees

The 2021 honourees represent the largest cohort of honourees for the annual service which is always held on the last Sunday of American Black History Month since 2005.

To date, New Life Baptist has honoured 65 Virgin Islands Unsung Heroes.

Meanwhile, this years’ service will see the return of the announcement of a surprise honouree chosen from within the New Life congregation.

The Service of Recognition for Virgin Islands Unsung Heroes will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2021, at 3:00 pm at New Life Baptist Church in Duff’s Bottom.

The public is invited.