His Worship The Mayor of Black River and Chairman St. Elizabeth Parish Council Councillor Everton Fisher Leads Delegation To Bermuda June 23 – 29, 2013 – Vincent Samuels

His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman Saint Elizabeth Parish Council, Councillor Everton Fisher.

As a follow up to the Awards Banquet and the Twinning Ceremony of the City of Hamilton, Bermuda and the Town of Black River, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies that was held at Luana Club, Black River and Saint Elizabeth Parish Council Meeting Room on November 24 and 26, 2012 respectively, at which Councillor Troy E. Symonds attended as the representative of the City Corporation of Hamilton, Bermuda, His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman Saint Elizabeth Parish Council Councillor Everton Fisher, will lead a delegation to Bermuda, June 23-29, 2013.

The delegation which is at the invitation of The Rt. Worship Graeme P. Outerbridge, J.P., Mayor of Hamilton and Chairman of the City Corporation Council, Hamilton, Bermuda, has its genesis in the visit that Vincent Samuels, Secretary/Treasurer, Beersheba Old Students Association  (BOSA) made to Bermuda September 17-23, 2012 to continue and complete primary and secondary research on James “Dick” Richards (1876-1965), Beersheba Primary School Alumnus and native of the impoverished, poverty stricken peasant farming community of Carr District, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies, Soldier, Self-made Businessman, and Philanthropist. Mr. Richards who is fondly remembered and revered for his philanthropy in his native community as “Bermuda King”, became one of Bermuda’s wealthiest black man and he is also remembered for his philanthropy in that country.

Jamaica 50 Committee of Saint Elizabeth Parish Council conferred a posthumous award on Mr. Richards at an Awards Banquet that was held on November 24, 2012.

The delegation that will be led by His Worship the Mayor of Black River and Chairman Saint Elizabeth Parish Council which will re-enact and officially confirm the Twinning of the two Municipalities, discuss Heritage Tourism, Cultural, Socio-economic and other matters of mutual interest to the two Municipalities, will consist of Councillor Darren Powell (former West Indies Cricketer), Member Parish Council, Malvern Parochial Division, Councillor Jeremy Palmer (former Mayor of Black River) Member Parish Council, Pedro Plains Parochial Division, Shane Taylor, Director of Planning, and David Gardener, Secretary Manager.

In the pursuance of its desire to keep alive the tremendous contribution that   James “Dick” Richards made to his native community – Beersheba Primary School (Government leased) his alma mater in particular, and Carr and adjoining districts, New Market, Saint Elizabeth in general – the Secretary/Treasurer Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) will accompany the delegation and will participate in activities in keeping with the invitation that will be given for him to do so.