Queen’s College, Barbados

Queen’s College was every bit a wonderful girls’ school and by fourth form we started serious preparations for our GCE O’levels. I chose Languages over Sciences. It was at this time that we were told we would be taking, for the first time, History at CXC (CSEC) level, taught by Mrs Roseanne Perkins.

In 1979, on completion of my GCEs and CXC, I was awarded an American Field Scholarship which afforded me the opportunity to spend a year in the small mid-western town of Strongsville, Ohio in the United States. I became part of a family who has remained just that to this day – family. It was an interesting, exciting and educational year that I will treasure always.

1980 to Present

On returning home in 1980, I immediately went to work in the computer division of an insurance company prior to taking a secretarial course at the Academy of Commerce and Technical Studies. My secretarial diploma led me to a position at a printing organization as Secretary to the Managing Director. It was during this time that an opportunity opened in the tourism field – an area that I was very interested in, and I went to work as Group Manager for a destination management company.

Following my position with the destination management company, I immigrated to the United States and spent the next 10 years there. I worked with an import/export organization, in Miami, as Executive Secretary to the President and Vice President. This organization turned out to be a ‘home away from home’ as it was owned and operated by West Indians making ‘big city’ life a bit ‘smaller’.

On returning to Barbados, I worked some six years with a diverse company group, initially with the administrative division, which evolved to management of the Beverage Systems Division. It was during this time that I spent one year with the Centre for Management Development of the UWI and completed an Executive Diploma in Human Resource Management.

In 2002, an opportunity opened for me to return to the area of tourism, albeit in a very different capacity and for the past seven years I have worked in villa management for a privately owned property on Barbados’ beautiful west coast.

On the personal side, my interests continue to focus around my family, keeping physically healthy and my deep love for animals which is reflected in our dogs and our pet bird - all rescued in one way or another, and all very much a part of our family and truly sources of great joy. My faith in God and my personal relationship with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ play a paramount role in my life. It is here that I find strength and courage for the challenges of life, grace and peace that truly pass all understanding in the midst of life’s storms and thankfulness for the many blessings in my life.