BVI celebrates centenarians, urges families to support elders

The British Virgin Islands marked National Centenarian Day on September 22, with the Social Development Department launching an awareness initiative to recognise the territory's oldest residents and their impact on the nation.

This year's observance carried the theme "Then & Now…Through the Years." Officials noted that centenarians have lived through two distinct eras of the BVI, an earlier period defined by close-knit communities and family bonds, and the modern territory shaped by economic development and technological advancement.

Trisha Smith-Gomes, Programme Director for Aged Care Services at the Social Development Department, described older persons as custodians of the community's foundation. She stated: "Our seniors are part of the foundation upon which our community was built. They raised families, supported neighbours, contributed to the development of the Territory and helped preserve many of the values and traditions we enjoy today."

Smith-Gomes stressed that genuine support for seniors goes beyond ceremonial recognition. "Honouring our seniors must go beyond recognising a milestone. It is also about making sure they continue to feel valued, included, respected and cared for as they age," she said.

The commemoration also paid tribute to two recently deceased centenarians: Enelle Smith and Esmie Estene Turnbull-Stoutt. Their legacies were remembered alongside those of other older residents whose work has shaped the territory across generations.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development called on families and communities to actively maintain contact with elderly relatives and friends, engage with them meaningfully, hear their accounts, and attend to their physical, emotional and social wellbeing. Officials said the ministry remains dedicated to advancing the health and welfare of older persons and expanding the resources available to them and their families across the territory.