Community Stalwarts do the honours at Christmas Tree Lighting in Central and South Eleuthera

The communities of Central and South Eleuthera came together in a beautiful ceremony on a comfortably cool evening in December, on Thursday (13th) for the lighting of the Christmas tree at the administrator’s complex.

Mrs. Margaret Symonette, the administrator for the Central and South Districts pointed out that in these fiscally tight times, money was not available from Central Government to assist with the ceremony, but with Eleuthera resilience it became a reality.

Band music, heralding Christmas carols, was provided by Central Eleuthera High School (CEHS) band & Preston H. Albury High School (PHAHS) band and the evening’s moderators numbered one from each of the two schools – MiKayva Roberts (CEHS) and Ryan Rolle (PHAHS).

Combined PHAHS and CEHS band members played Christmas carols for the appreciative audience.

The honour of lighting the beautiful tree at the end went to longstanding stalwarts of the  community, businessmen, Mr. Arthur Rolle and  Mr.Lawrence Griffin (pictured at the end).  An added honour was announced on the evening for Mr. Rolle’s deceased brother, Richard Rolle, by Central Eleuthera’s Chief Councillor, Mr. John Gibson, who announced that the new local government’s building on Cupid’s Cay will be named in his honour. Mr. Arthur Rolle, the proprietor of the only movie theatre in Eleuthera for many years, was also honoured this week by the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), currently showing the Best of the Fest, in Governor’s Harbour.

Leslie Vanderpool (center) founder of BIFF (Bahamas International Film Festival), with Fest entourage at the Tree Lighting.

Mr. Damian Gomez, MP for Central and South Eleuthera and Minister of State for Legal Affairs spoke briefly at the ceremony, reminding the audience that the ground breaking for the Hospital in Palmetto Point will be taking place this month and that a new administration complex ($20 million) will get going in the next 18months. He also brought the news that Moody had further downgraded the country’s credit rating from A3 to Baa1. He however sounded optimistic that the year ahead would be a better one for the economy of Eleuthera.

Solos on the evening were sung by Jeremiah Sweeting, Malik Fox (Winner of Eleuthera’s Got Talent – 2009), C-Dash (Chris Darling) and Brenda Lee Petty.

Rev. Paul Thompson (photo left) of Mt. Olive Tabernacle Assemblies Of God, Wemyss Bight, presented the evening’s message on a night that began with an opening prayer by Pastor Jason Thompson.

The community members out ranged from infants to the elderly and all age groups in between.

Stalwarts of the community, Mr. Arthur Rolle (left) and Mr. Lawrence Griffin (right) had the honour of lighting the beautifully decorated Christmas Tree.