Statement
STATEMENT BY DEPUTY GOVERNOR MR. DAVID D. ARCHER, JR.
ON THE PASSING OF FORMER DEPUTY GOVERNOR
MR. ELTON GEORGES, CMG, OBE
Thursday, 5th April, 2018
Good morning, Public Officers. Please stop immediately and take a minute of reflective silence on the passing of Mr. Elton M. Georges CMG, OBE. On behalf of our Public Service Family, we extend our deepest sympathy, love, comfort and prayers to his immediate and extended family.
Mr. Georges embodied Public Service. On Tuesday, 27th March, 2018, former Deputy Governors Mrs. Dancia Penn-Sallah, OBE, QC and Mrs. Rosalie Adams and myself visited former Deputy Governor Mr. Elton Georges at Peebles Hospital.
On his passing, I would like to reissue the words he said to us about the Public Service and the role Public Officers must play in shaping the future of our Territory.
“I have been fortunate to have a long life and the chance to see the Virgin Islands grow in so many ways. Almost my entire life has been spent in the Public Service through various occupations. Starting out as a teacher, Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor and lastly as the Territory’s first Ombudsman, I believe I have seen a thing or two.
I do get a chance to hear of the happenings of our community and if I may, I would like to say to the men and women serving in our Public Service, that you must be ones to help our Territory move out of our current state into an arena that spurs on growth, opportunities for Virgin Islanders, and services that treat one and all with dignity and respect.
In the execution of your duty, you must be current, attentive to the changes happening in your specific areas and in the world. Importantly, it will be you, the members of the Public Service that will help our Territory rebuild in a manner that is loyal to its citizens, and still warm to those who grace our shores. As public servants, the job that you do is vital to the welfare of this community. Please know that I will be cheering you on.”
Although he has passed the week after, Mr. Georges thoughts and message are demonstrative of his love for the Public Service, his community and for you as Public Officers.
Please pay attention to how the Public Service will support his family during this period of loss. Our reflection on his service and support to his family during this time is just a small effort of what we can do for someone who lived the majority of his life serving the public.
As someone who now serves as Deputy Governor, a role Mr. Georges held for 21 years, I am personally saddened by his death but comforted in his last words to me on the importance of us serving the public well as we rebuild our Territory.
On behalf of the Public Service, I extend love and ask for God’s comfort to Mr. Georges’ family and especially his immediate family; his wife Rita, son Kamau, and daughter Noni (Deputy Registrar, Supreme Court).
May God continue to bless the Georges family, the Public Service, you and the Territory of the Virgin Islands.
