Jan. 10, 2009 — Jazmarie Amaya Joseph, seven days young, got flowers, a teddy bear, balloons, gift certificates, savings bonds and other presents Friday at Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix. Born at 4:21 a.m. Jan. 1 at the hospital, Jazmarie was the first baby born this year on St. Croix and in the Virgin Islands (See: "Jazmarie Joseph Is First St. Croix Baby of 2009.")
Mom Jessica Aponte, 24, held little Jazmarie, asleep and peacefully oblivious to the television cameras and scribbling reporters as one by one people from businesses around the island, the hospital, the office of Delegate Donna M. Christensen and other organizations offered a few kind words and deposited their gift.
"When she grows up and is going off to school, hopefully this will help out," St. Croix Democratic Party Vice Chairman Raymond Williams said, giving a $50 U.S. Savings Bond on behalf of the party
Reliable Rental gave a bunch of festive balloons, Wild Orchid florists contributed a nice potted flower, and others gave teddy bears, gift certificate, checks and gift boxes.
"This is wonderful — thank you," Aponte said. "I'm just happy to be here, see she's healthy and she has me."
This is the third year the hospital has held this small ceremony. The tradition of feting the first child born on St. Croix came out of a desire to do something nice as the new year begins, to help make one new baby just a little bit better prepared and provisioned from the beginning, said hospital spokesman Rashidi Clenance.
Others who gave included Create A Party, Angels Closet, Coldwell Banker – Land-De Wilde Realty, James Memorial Funeral Home, Moms to Be, Top-Notch Gift Basket, V.I. Regulated Waste Management, the hospital's Gift Box gift shop, Tropical Treat Cafeteria and Terry's Uniforms.
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