Senior citizens at the Mason Hall Home for the Aged, children from the Sylphil Home of Love and the Family First Foundation were elated when Chief Secretary Orville London, accompanied by members of his staff, showed seasonal cheer to Tobago's needy with the distribution of hampers at the homes yesterday. Prior to London's visit, the children also were treated at the annual Office of the Chief Secretary Children's Christmas Party.
London spent most of his visit chatting and mingling with the elderly and with the children who were all eager to show off their presents. He also highly commended the homeowners and caretakers for their contribution to the development and caretaking of some of Tobago's most vulnerable, despite the challenges. Speaking at the Sylphil Home of Love, he noted: "As is our annual practice it gives me very great pleasure to at least bring some cheer to the young people in your institution.
"We were very happy to host some of them at the Office of the Chief Secretary's function and I understand that they had a whale of a time and this is just the culmination of that process." Housemother Susan Phillips-Jack responded: "Mr London and the Tobago House of Assembly, I just want to say thanks, especially to Mr London who has supported this home for years." Towards the end of the visit, the Chief Secretary reiterated the THA Office of the Chief Secretary's commitment to donate the second tranche of a $300,000 contribution for construction of a new building at Lambeau for the Sylphil Home of Love for Children.
On November 9, London presented the first tranche-a $125,000 cheque-to Phillips-Jack.
Following the visit he toured the building now under construction and received a progress report from the contractor. "We stem the tide and I want the Chief Secretary to know that he is one of our rocks," housemother of Family First Foundation, Merle Hercules, said.