Mustique Community Hall renamed after pioneering educator

THE MUSTIQUE Indigenous Peoples Association (MIPA), has renamed the Mustique Community Hall after local educator Doreen Simon, to honour her nearly 50 years of service as the island’s first indigenous resident.

The renaming ceremony recognising Simon’s contribution with a named landmark, was held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, on Mustique one of the Northern Grenadines islands.

This event marked Simon’s enduring legacy amid Mustique’s evolution from a privately owned island, purchased in 1958 by Colin Tennant, later Lord Glenconner, and home to a small number of local families, into a luxury destination for the global elite, a MIPA release states.

Successive government agreements have protected the rights of these original inhabitants and their descendants, it adds.

Born on November 14, 1933, the now 92-year-old Simon dedicated decades to education, serving as postmistress and headmistress, among other roles. Unable to attend due to severe dementia and being bedridden, she was represented at the ceremony. Her son, Conrad Simon, recounted that Hamlet Trimmingham proposed the renaming at a MIPA meeting, a motion that was unanimously approved, and endorsed by the Mustique Company Ltd, which manages the island.

Managing Director of the Mustique Company Roger Pritchard, praised Simon’s impact, stating: “Teachers play a very important part in our lives, and as you heard, she was a teacher here on the island for nearly 50 years,

from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. And there’ll be many people here who were taught by Doreen, and there are many people overseas, as you heard, who have been taught by Doreen”.

He added: “And whether it’s six, seven, eight years through junior school, primary school, before going back to the mainland, teachers have a big impact on our lives. And the heart and soul of this island is the people who live and work on the island.”

Prichard noted, “that’s a lot of the people who are here in the audience today. And for those of you who were influenced, mentored, taught by Doreen, I’m sure a little bit of Doreen has rubbed off on you. And that’s rubbed off on the island, because we’re very fortunate to have such a strong community, and have such strong personalities like Doreen”.

He extended thanks to all attendees for their contribution to the island, to Simon for the important role she has played in the island’s development and evolution of the community, and to MIPA “for taking this opportunity to rename the hall in honour of Doreen.”

MIPA, which represents the interests of Mustique’s approximately 150 indigenous residents, plus migrants and their offspring, says it plans to honour another community icon soon.