Samuel retains ‘Best Lit Private House’ title

For the second consecutive year, Rillan Hill resident Jimmy Samuel has retained the title of “Best Lit Private House” in the recently concluded Nine Mornings festivities.{{more}}

An ecstatic Samuel told SEARCHLIGHT: “I feel really happy that I win again. It’s not me alone, but the whole community feels very happy about it.”

Samuel who has been taking part in the competition for the past five years, said it costs him a great deal of money to decorate his house with over 1000 lights, but said it is just something he looks forward to every year.

Samuel came out in front ahead of Olivia DaSilva of Cane End who placed second, and Hamlet Garrick of Pembroke, third.

in 2007 and 2008, Samuel placed second, but noted that he was never discouraged.

“I love doing this because it brings people from all over the country and I just like to see people happy,” Samuel related.

Samuel noted that hanging all the lights took him over two weeks to complete, without any assistance.

Declining to disclose how much he pays for electricity because of the Christmas lights, Samuel said: “I can’t tell you that, but what I can tell you is that it’s usually very high,” Samuel chuckled.

Samuel, who returned to these shores in 2005, after spending some 44 years abroad, said that he contributed to the Hospital while overseas, but wanted to make a more meaningful contribution after returning home to live.

“I have lived overseas for a while, and this is my way of saying thanks to St Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said.

As for next year, Samuel hinted that he will be coming “bigger and better” next time around.

“As long as I have health and strength, I will continue what I’m doing for my country,” Samuel said.

(KW)