Against the backdrop of a variety of cultural presentations that were held on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at which Councillor Donal Smith, Deputy Mayor and Alderman of the City of Hamilton, Bermuda and four other Dignitaries from Bermuda, His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman Saint Elizabeth Parish Council Councillor Everton Fisher, Councillor Cyril Martin, Member parish Council, New Market Parochial Division and other officials sat on the same aged wooden platform in the main auditorium at Beersheba Primary School from which James “Dick” Richards (1872-1965) was taught as a student, torrential showers of rain that fell in the area all the way down to town of Black River, did not thwart the festive occasion or launching and signing of the book FROM BEERSHEBA TO BERMUDA THAT WAS HELD AT THE Saint Elizabeth Parish Library, Black River, Saint Elizabeth.
Highlights from the memorable function that had its genesis in James “Dick” Richards, the young man who at age 15 years, free himself from the shackles of poverty in his native Carr District, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies to become one of the wealthiest black men in Bermuda and one of one of the Principal Shareholder in Bermuda National Bank are as follows:
Greeting delivered by His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman Saint Elizabeth Parish Council Councillor Everton Fisher.
Greeting delivered by Mr. Anthony Freckleton, Chairman South Coast Resort Board that operates under the auspices of Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO).
Greeting delivered by Mrs. Nora Lawrence, Beersheba Primary School Alumna, Retired Principal New Roads All Age School, Westmoreland.
Greeting delivered by Nickayla Stephens of Flint Valley, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, grade 9 student at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and a qualified beneficiary and recipient of James Richards Educational Trust Fund.
Greeting from Mrs. Valerie E. Pethen-Smith, MVO, BAA (Journalism), J.P., and Leslie C. E. Holder, BS, MBA, Ed.D. J.P., beneficiaries of James Richards Educational Trust Fund in Bermuda. The greeting was eloquently read by Shanisa Jones of Flint Valley, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, grade 11 student at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS). Despite the fact that Bermuda Trust Company Limited (former Trustee for James Richards Educational Trust Fund) declaring Shanisa Jones a qualified beneficiary of the Fund, the unconscionable tyrannically oligarchy ruled Administration at Beersheba Primary School (new Trustee for James Richards Educational Trust Fund) has denied Shanisa benefit from the Fund since the Ministry of Education placed her at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) as a result of her excellent performance in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).
Keynote address by Councillor Donal Smith, Deputy Mayor and Alderman, City of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Vote of Thanks and book signing by Vincent Samuels, ASC, BBA, author of the book FROM BEERSHEBA TO BERMUDA.
Refreshments – including cocktail patties donated by Juici Patties – was provided and professionally served by Mrs. Peggy Ewen and her staff.
Review of the book FROM BEERSHEBA TO BERMUDA that Dr. Trevor Hamilton of Trevor Hamilton Associates and an illustrious and erudite Alumnus of Beersheba Primary School sent the author is as follows:
1. Your research has been thorough and credible.
2. The book is very reader friendly.
3. The story is very inspiring and should be read by all youngsters in Saint Elizabeth.
4. Congrats on a job done with excellence.
Vin, congratulations on a job well done on your book “From Beersheba to Bermuda”. Once I received my copy I could not put it down until I finished reading it. This is a wonderful story for the children and the community to know about Mr. Richards. Not many of us knew much about Mr Richards when we went to Beersheba Elementary, and now we knew the story behind the photo. We saw the photo hanging on the wall in Mrs Meyler’s class room, but never knew his story, all we knew he was someone from the area who cared so much for his people to leave a Trust Fund that is to help their children’s children in his District to obtain a higher education. No wonder God blessed Mr. Richards in such a great way because He saw the heart he had for the poor people and that’s why it boogled my mind that the unconsionable administration at Beersheba Elementary deny these children what is rightfully theirs. Like Mr. Richards, thank you for being the VOICE for the children at Beersheba. God bless you. (sh-Boynton Beach FL)