State Funeral For Hon. O'Neal Planned For December 11
A state funeral is being planned for Wednesday, December 11 to honour the first Premier of the Virgin Islands Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE Member Emeritus.
According to information provided by Government, his body will lie in state at the House of Assembly Chambers on Monday, December 9 and Tuesday, December 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both days.
This will be followed by the state funeral on Wednesday, December 11 at the Multipurpose Sports Complex.
Additional details regarding the arrangements for the state funeral will be provided in subsequent communications.
Hon. O’Neal is survived by his wife, Mrs. Edris O’Neal, OBE; daughters Mrs. Esther Wheatley; Mrs. Cheryl ‘Jacqui’ O’Neal Privitere; and Ms. Abigail O’Neal; son, Ralph T. O’Neal, Jr.; Son-in-Law Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon. Vincent Wheatley; grandchildren, Mr. Alexander Caffery, Ms. Amber Wheatley and Ms. Xyrah Wheatley; and his sister Ms. Garna Campbell.
The family of Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE Member Emeritus informed the Government of the Virgin Islands of his passing on November 11. He was 85 years old.
A Coordination Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Julian Willock, in consultation with the Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Andrew Fahie are planning the occasion in close consultation with the family.
Hon. O’Neal was the longest-serving elected official in the history of the Territory of the Virgin Islands. He served in the House of Assembly and Legislative Council for almost 40 years.
He was first elected in September 1975 as member for the Seventh District (then Virgin Gorda) and served as the elected representative for the Seventh District until 1979. He then served as the elected representative for the Ninth District (Virgin Gorda and Anegada) for consecutive terms from 1979 to 2015 until his retirement from active politics in 2015.
On July 6, 2015, the House of Assembly honoured Hon. O'Neal by passing a Resolution bestowing upon him Member Emeritus status.
He was appointed as Chief Minister following the death of Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt and served as Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development from 1995 to 2003.
He then served as the Territory's first Premier and Minister of Finance from 2007 to 2011. He has also served as a Government Backbencher, and in the capacity of Minister for Social Services (1979 to 1983); Minister for Natural Resources and Labour (1988 to 1994); and Deputy Chief Minister (1988 to 1995).
Hon. O'Neal was born on Virgin Gorda and represented the Ninth District for 36 consecutive years before retiring from his political life in 2015.
This will be followed by the state funeral on Wednesday, December 11 at the Multipurpose Sports Complex.
Additional details regarding the arrangements for the state funeral will be provided in subsequent communications.
Hon. O’Neal is survived by his wife, Mrs. Edris O’Neal, OBE; daughters Mrs. Esther Wheatley; Mrs. Cheryl ‘Jacqui’ O’Neal Privitere; and Ms. Abigail O’Neal; son, Ralph T. O’Neal, Jr.; Son-in-Law Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon. Vincent Wheatley; grandchildren, Mr. Alexander Caffery, Ms. Amber Wheatley and Ms. Xyrah Wheatley; and his sister Ms. Garna Campbell.
The family of Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE Member Emeritus informed the Government of the Virgin Islands of his passing on November 11. He was 85 years old.
A Coordination Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Julian Willock, in consultation with the Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Andrew Fahie are planning the occasion in close consultation with the family.
Hon. O’Neal was the longest-serving elected official in the history of the Territory of the Virgin Islands. He served in the House of Assembly and Legislative Council for almost 40 years.
He was first elected in September 1975 as member for the Seventh District (then Virgin Gorda) and served as the elected representative for the Seventh District until 1979. He then served as the elected representative for the Ninth District (Virgin Gorda and Anegada) for consecutive terms from 1979 to 2015 until his retirement from active politics in 2015.
On July 6, 2015, the House of Assembly honoured Hon. O'Neal by passing a Resolution bestowing upon him Member Emeritus status.
He was appointed as Chief Minister following the death of Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt and served as Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development from 1995 to 2003.
He then served as the Territory's first Premier and Minister of Finance from 2007 to 2011. He has also served as a Government Backbencher, and in the capacity of Minister for Social Services (1979 to 1983); Minister for Natural Resources and Labour (1988 to 1994); and Deputy Chief Minister (1988 to 1995).
Hon. O'Neal was born on Virgin Gorda and represented the Ninth District for 36 consecutive years before retiring from his political life in 2015.
