Hand in Hand SVG, a nonprofit organisation founded 10 years ago by Laferne Thomas, an advocate for her community, Campden Park, has honoured former South Leeward resident, Jeremiah “Jerry” Scott.
The group honoured Scott for his life’s work in serving South Leeward and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole.
The intimate ceremony was held on June 14 at Scott’s home in Campden Park, where he was showered with kind words from close friends, neighbours and a few constituents who were the invited guests.
He was presented with a plaque by South Leeward MP, Nigel Stephenson, a monetary donation and flowers, all from Hand in Hand SVG.
“The organisation saw it fitting to host such a gesture as an act of gratitude for all the lives he impacted and touched from Campden Park to Vermont and beyond,” Hand in Hand said in a press statement.
“Jeremiah Scott will always be remembered for the projects he executed as a well-accomplished parliamentarian of the New Democratic Party who governed for 17 years. Those projects that still stand as his trademark today are the Campden Park Port, the Campden Park Basketball Court, the numerous footpaths, concrete village roads and various community centers in the constituency of South Leeward,” the statement said.
In his remarks, Stephenson recalled as a young boy in Vermont, “always hearing about the great Jerry Scott”.
“Even persons who did not appreciate Jerry Scott, before the election was done, they were on his bandwagon and as a ‘little fella’ I found myself running away from home jumping up on truck too but I didn’t think in my wildest dreams that I would have been succeeding that great man,” said Stephenson, who is also a vice president of the New Democratic Party.
Stephenson emphasised that in politics, he would often refer to South Leeward as a nice place for archaeologists to visit because they would know exactly when time stopped.
He stated that the great work that was started by Scott are at a standstill 24 years after the NDP was voted out of office.
Stephenson said Scott did not just transform South Leeward but he also transformed the lives of many people, and that people are left in awe of him and love him.
Scott looked on proudly at his political successor with smiles of appreciation, nods of agreement and jubilant chuckles as he listened attentively to all that was said.
The same reactions came as many of the other guests spoke very fondly of their experiences with Scott as their neighbour, friend and area representative.
In August 2022, Scott suffered a stroke, which has affected his speech, but it has not dimmed his spirit and appreciation for life.
Hand in Hand SVG presented his wife, June Scott with a bouquet of flowers, and people attending the ceremony commended her unwavering support for her husband during his years in politics and also after.
Dr. Bernadette Scott, their daughter, expressed sincere gratitude to Hand in Hand SVG on behalf of her father and family and described the organisation as phenomenal.
Hand in Hand SVG has completed the first phase of a concrete footpath in the village of Cocoa and is preparing for its backpack distribution, which will benefit economically-disadvantaged students from six schools across St. Vincent.
The organisation’s other projects this year will include their annual Christmas food bag distribution and toy drive, which will target various communities throughout the country.
Hand in Hand SVG is also working on spreading more Christmas joy in Campden Park, by lighting the garden next to the Campden Park bridge, with hopes of hosting some Nine Morning activities to benefit the community.
“Hand in Hand SVG prides itself for working in silence but having big impact on the lives of Vincentians who need it most,” the press release said.
They are determined to grow their impact and urge those who applaud and share their vision of kindness and generosity to get on board by donating to any of their projects with funding, to continually change lives for the better.