Legislators Plead For R. T. O’Neal’s Memoir To Be Published
During his long service as a public servant and legislator, Hon. Ralph. O’Neal (HOA Member Emeritus) witnessed and experienced a great deal of the journey of Virgin Islands' development, and he often shared these stories at various instances over the years. Now that time is swiftly passing, on October 18 a few legislators in the House of Assembly made a plea for the knowledge of Hon. O’Neal to be immortalized in a book urgently.
The plea was made during the debate of the Motion that was put forward by Minister for Works, Hon. Kye Rymer, to have the Administration Complex renamed in Hon. O’Neal’s honour. During that debate, almost all of the legislators referred to Hon. O’Neal as a great leader and said that it is fitting that his service to the Territory is being recognized in such a way.
However, it was mentioned that a move should be made to secure stories Hon. O’Neal told, by ensuring that his memoir is published. The first to make the call was Minister for Health, Hon. Carvin Malone, who seconded the renaming Motion.
Hon. Malone, who worked in a political capacity with Hon. O’Neal for many years, noted that the memoir would be a great piece of Virgin Islands literature.
“I would like the fact that whatever stage his memoir is in – it is yet to be printed because every step of it would go as part of our history. We cannot let it go untold; we must record it properly; and I think that the timing for it is there just now,” Hon. Malone told the House.
One of the earnest requests for the memoir’s publishing was made by Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Marlon Penn, who said, “His memoir needs to be written. It’s one of those stories…He had one of those brains that he didn’t forget anything. He remembered every detail of instances, of past historic events in this Territory.”
The Opposition Leader added, “I know he started the process of documenting those things; hope that they are well on their way and I think that it is a life that we in the Virgin Islands need to cherish, we need to know of it, our children as they come need to really understand the contribution he’s made.”
This is not the first time that members stood in the House of Assembly and asked for Hon. O’Neal’s memoir to be published. This was previously done in July 2015 when Hon. O’Neal was conferred with his Emeritus status.
During the late stage of his legislative tenure, Hon. O’Neal confirmed that he was working on a book chronicling a lot of the historical stories he told over the years.
However, it was mentioned that a move should be made to secure stories Hon. O’Neal told, by ensuring that his memoir is published. The first to make the call was Minister for Health, Hon. Carvin Malone, who seconded the renaming Motion.
Hon. Malone, who worked in a political capacity with Hon. O’Neal for many years, noted that the memoir would be a great piece of Virgin Islands literature.
“I would like the fact that whatever stage his memoir is in – it is yet to be printed because every step of it would go as part of our history. We cannot let it go untold; we must record it properly; and I think that the timing for it is there just now,” Hon. Malone told the House.
One of the earnest requests for the memoir’s publishing was made by Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Marlon Penn, who said, “His memoir needs to be written. It’s one of those stories…He had one of those brains that he didn’t forget anything. He remembered every detail of instances, of past historic events in this Territory.”
The Opposition Leader added, “I know he started the process of documenting those things; hope that they are well on their way and I think that it is a life that we in the Virgin Islands need to cherish, we need to know of it, our children as they come need to really understand the contribution he’s made.”
This is not the first time that members stood in the House of Assembly and asked for Hon. O’Neal’s memoir to be published. This was previously done in July 2015 when Hon. O’Neal was conferred with his Emeritus status.
During the late stage of his legislative tenure, Hon. O’Neal confirmed that he was working on a book chronicling a lot of the historical stories he told over the years.
