Uncle Ernest gets deed

Some people never make it as far as one or three years, but, as far as “Uncle” Ernest is concerned, 103 is a good old age to attain.

On Tuesday, May 30, 2006 relatives and well-wishers gathered to pay tribute to Ernest Ollivierre at his home at Paget Farm, Bequia, as he celebrated his 103rd birthday. Looking a lot younger than his actual age, he sang and clapped to some of the familiar musical renditions.{{more}} The RIPPLES group, which included a number of his great nieces and nephews, performed a medley of songs accompanied by their drums, together with trumpeters Dermott Ollivierre and Jim Coleman.

The highlight of the celebrations was the handing over of Uncle Ernest’s title deed to his property by the Deputy Director of Grenadines Affairs, Herman Belmar, on behalf of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

During the construction of the J.F. Mitchell Airport, the government acquired the family’s land and the family was asked to relocate. However Uncle Ernest remained on a portion of the land for which a sum of $24,000.00 was dedducted from the overall price that was paid for the land; but Uncle Ernest had never received a deed for that portion of the land. Clearly overjoyed, Uncle Ernest gave thanks to God and to the Prime Minister for helping him to see this dream fulfilled. “I don’t have any more worries now,” he declared.