EIGHT PLEDGE TO SERVE RESIDENTS OF CASTLE BRUCE AS COUNCILORS

Eight have now been sworn in to serve on the Castle Bruce Village Council as the twentieth inaugural meeting took place on Thursday, November 23 2023.

The ceremony took place at the Castle Bruce Regional Emergency Shelter where the Justice of the Peace Mr. Jovin Joseph administered the oath to the eight members.

Nora Berkitte, Meronie Burton, Michael Gasper, Ward Bryan George and Rene Lyan Wiltshire were the elected members while, Angelica Gasper, Glen Darroux and Amos Wiltshire were the nominated members making up the new council.

Newly sworn in chairman, Mr. Bryan George congratulated his fellow councilors on what he described as a bold step to serve the people of Castle Bruce.

“My dear incoming councilors, it is indeed a bold step that you have taken to put yourself forward to serve this community. I stress here on the word serve. The task ahead is huge and will demand from us patience, tolerance, determination, discipline and love; the call to serve means sometimes inconveniencing ourselves and our families in other to achieve our required goals. One of our main tasks here is to give a facelift to the name of the Castle Bruce Village Council. We need to build the confidence of the people in our ability to serve and represent them. We have a task of uniting the people of Castle Bruce so that together we can build back Castle Bruce to at least some of the old glory days, the days that people from out of Castle Bruce still talk about,” Mr. George stated.

Member of Parliament for the Castle Bruce Constituency, Hon. Octavia Alfred commended the new council for continuing to serve the village of castle Bruce, as they have all been previously involved in community development.  

“I commend you for taking this bold step of putting up yourself for council elections. This is really significant. All of you have been community leaders in your own field, sports, construction, agriculture, entertainment, business, beautification, education, culture, food preparation and more. This is what your new position calls for, for you to continue to serve as well as you did before but now at a higher and wider level. You may have concerns about some community development issues or some projects like the basketball court or the lamp posts in some areas, but these we will work on together because I know, if you continue to lead in your field, Castle Bruce will be a different place,” Hon. Alfred stated.

Minister for Culture, Youth Sports and Community Development, Hon. Gretta Roberts encouraged the new councilors to take their role as leaders seriously.

“Most of you have been elected by the people in your community to serve on this council because you were considered worthy of such a service, while those of you who were nominated, albeit for the same reason or simply because of your commitment and past contributions which you have made to the development of your communities. Whatever the reason may be for your selection, you are encouraged to take this role seriously. Councilors this inauguration ceremony is your introduction to the people, your swearing in and your formal acceptance to serve your community and country,” Minister Roberts noted. 

She encouraged the council to work with their community and their residents for the development of Castle Bruce.

“Emphasize that which unites you rather than what divides you. Know that you can disagree without being disagreeable. Place value in hearing from your villagers. Listen to them and come together to discuss and arrive at solutions. Forge bonds with your Parliamentary Representative and other community leaders who are able to give advice. Let the people you serve be a part of this journey to development and success. When ideas for consideration to implement are put forward, listen to the people and set your plans with timely dates or deadlines and strive to achieve them,” Minister Roberts added.

Minister for Health, Wellness and Social Services Hon. Cassanni Laville represented Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit at the inauguration ceremony.

He told the councilors that their serving as part of the Castle Bruce Village Council is evidence of their commitment to the development of their communities.

“Congratulations to you the council. This is indeed a milestone for democracy here in your community. It is a reflection of tremendous commitment that you have continued to display. It is an expression of self-governance; it is an expression of collective decision making, not only by you but by your wonderful community and constituency, so congratulations to all of you. this is most certainly a response to a call for leaders and you have responded in a wonderful way,” Minister Laville stated.

The Castle Bruce village council was first inaugurated in 1965.