ROTARY DISTRICT Governor Sonya Alleyne made her inaugural visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) as Rotarians marked the start of the 20212022 Rotary year.

Alleyne who is District Governor thoughout District 7030, was welcomed by clubs in SVG for the August 4-8 visit, a Rotary release states.

The 2021-2022 District Governor (DG) is a national of Barbados, and currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Operations Manager at the Barbados Family Planning Association. DG Sonya was accompanied by Past District Governor David Edwards, who is the disaster chair for Rotary International in the Caribbean. DG Sonya was also joined by Immediate Past District Governor Lisle Chase, and his partner in service Rotarian Maggitha Jaganath. The contingent was led by local coordinator Assistant District Governor Shafia London.

DG Sonya engaged members of the Rotary family, namely the Rotary Club of St.Vincent, Rotary Club of St.Vincent South, Rotary Club of St. Vincent Bequia Satellite and Rotaract Club) during her three-day visit, discussing planned projects for the 20212022 Rotary year. She also paid a courtesy call to Governor General Dame Susan Dougan.

The visit of the DG coincided with the celebrations of the Rotary Club of St. Vincent 50th Anniversary.

DG Sonya was also a panelist for the Rotary Club of St. Vincent on a virtual panel discussion which saw an audience of over 60 Rotarians and friends of Rotary from across the world, as they discussed the topic “ “Creating opportunities: Empowering women and girls”. The visiting contingent also had an opportunity to tour the leeward coast and to visit the red zone on the northeastern side of the island to view the devastating impacts by the recent eruptions of La Soufriere Volcano, and hurricane Elsa. During this trip they were joined by local Rotarians and participated in the distribution of food supplies and hundreds of cases of water to rural communities where pipeborne water has not yet retuned.

The Rotary family has demonstrated its commitment to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and this was further highlighted during the visit of DG Sonya.

The Rotary clubs donated a consignment of protective masks to the Thompson Home and The Mental Health Center. The masks were handed over in a brief ceremony to representatives of both Institutions by District Governor Sonya Alleyne who was accompanied by past District Governor David Edwards, past District Governor Lisle Chase and his partner in service Rotarian Maggitha Chase, president of Rotary Club of St. Vincent Dr. Janelle Allen, and Immediate Past President Annette Mark.

Also, present was President of Rotary Club St. Vincent South, Bantu Campbell.

The official visit of the DG climaxed with a cocktail reception at the Young Island Resort, where past presidents and foundation members of the Rotary Club of St.Vincent were recognized and a variety of projects over the last 50 years were highlighted.

Rotary International is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. Rotary District 7030 is home to over 2,000 Rotarians in 73 Clubs in 17 Counties and Territories in the southern Caribbean.