Queen makes Chateaubelair shine again

Just 48 hours after security forces involved in operation Vincy-Pac had left their community, Chateaubelair residents poured out into the streets around midday last Sunday, May 31st, to greet the new Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Veronique Williams.{{more}}

Williams, 20, the first home-girl to win the title, drove through the town in a five-vehicle caravan that was organized by members of the Chateaubelair community.

The previous evening, anxious residents had been glued to their radios listening to live commentary on the pageant, which took place at Victoria Park in Kingstown. When Williams, known in Chateaubelair as Patrice, was proclaimed Miss SVG 2009, screaming, cheers and whistles broke out all over the north leeward town.

Williams is a graduate of the Petit Bordel Secondary School (PBSS) and the SVG Community College, and is employed at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Industry as part of the Youth Empowerment Service (YES) Programme. Last year, Williams entered the Miss North Leeward pageant and placed third. She is also an aspiring fashion model.

Williams said that she realizes that her responsibilities are greater now that she is in the national spotlight, but she cannot forget her roots. She credits her success to hard work and the support of many persons especially Teona Stapleton, her sponsors, her family and community.

Williams sees herself using technology to reach young people, “I am young and I have a lot of ideas, so we have to believe in our selves to do our part in national development”, she said. Miss SVG 2009 also said that youths are not being taken seriously enough and that they need to work to change that situation.

Williams told Searchlight that she recognizes that she represents hope for many girls of her community. However, she inspires not only the girls, it seems. Feldon Howe, a young man from the town said he sees a local girl winning the title as the first sign that the community is moving forward.

Williams will represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Miss Carival pageant on the 26th June at Victoria Park and according to Williams, she aims to take that crown too.