Calling it a positive note on which to end the term, outgoing Senate President Ronald Russell presided over a “perma plaque” ceremony Wednesday to recognize 11 of the territory’s citizens.
The Senate chamber on St. Croix was crowded with friends and family of the honorees, all of whom had been the subject of special resolutions passed by the 29th Legislature sometime during the last two years.
After being praised by the senators, each honoree received a framed copy of their resolution and had a moment to address the public. Those being recognized comprised a diverse group, distinguishing themselves in the fields of sports, music, politics and culture.
Kristepher Michael Tutein Elien was recognized for his accomplishments in the sport of tennis. Elien showed great talent at a young age, winning a gold medal at 12 at the 1998 World Youth Games.
He dominated the youth tennis scene on St. Croix until moving to Florida to attend high school. While there, he set several school records and was named the state’s sportsman of the year.
Elien later went on to become the first professional tennis player from the Virgin Islands to attain a global ranking. He has competed on the Virgin Islands Davis Cup team seven times and now coaches the sport.
Edwin Ortiz was honored as a passionate local activist. He was particularly praised for a charity he started to distribute toys to disadvantaged children on St. Croix on Three Kings Day.
V.I. Police Officer Cuthbert Chapman was honored posthumously for his service to the territory.
Sen. Terrence Nelson, the bill’s sponsor, said the idea to honor Chapman came from the Frederiksted Bike and Burglary Unit who asked that the Frederiksted Substation be renamed in honor of their fallen comrade.
During the ceremony, Chapman was remembered for his intense dedication to the job. Nelson pointed out that in the 12 years he worked for the VIPD, Chapman never once called in sick.
Chapman was shot three times while trying to prevent a robbery on April 17, 2004. He succumbed to his wounds on April 26.
His parents accepted the award on his behalf and the substation will be renamed as requested.
Magdalena Falu Allende was recognized for a lifetime of civic engagement. Trained as a dietician, Allende filled several roles at both the Charles Harwood Clinic and the Juan F. Luis Medical Center.
She later shifted her career towards politics and became the first Puerto Rican woman to hold a cabinet level position in the Virgin Islands, serving as the commissioner of both the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
Her most recent political post was deputy commissioner of the Department of Human Services where she was directly in charge of the Herbert Grigg Home of the Aged.
Allende was also honored for her volunteer work. She has served in leadership positions in several organizations, including stints as the president of both the Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Civic Organization and the Crucian Christmas Festival Organization.
George Flores was recognized for a lifetime of advocacy. He described himself as having the honor of adopting Frederiksted as his hometown, and has worked with both We the People and Our Town Frederiksted to improve conditions there.
Flores lobbied especially hard for improvements to the island’s roads and was an early advocate for the Christiansted bypass project.
Flores was also honored as an advocate for labor, pushing for better working conditions across the territory.
Otto Tranberg, the oldest of the honorees, was praised for his work defending the island’s environment. As a young man, Tranberg took it upon himself to protect the leatherback turtles on Sandy Point. He would camp out on the beaches during the laying season to ensure no one stole their eggs or harassed the mothers.
Tranberg later was hired as a Fish and Wildlife officer to continue his work in an official capacity.
Tranberg’s advocacy for turtle conservation gained him national attention when one of his columns in the Avis was reprinted in the New York Times. He would later be recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior twice for his conservation work.
Edwin G.B. Russell, brother of the outgoing Senate president, was recognized for his achievements in music.
An accomplished trumpeter, Russell has made a name for himself on the Latin jazz scene, performing over the years with such artists as The Mighty Sparrow, Ron Carter and Jimmy Heath.
He splits his time between his music and working as a teacher in the Virgin Islands public school system.
Gloria Joseph was recognized for her mastery of Crucian cuisine, lauded as “one of the greatest cooks in the history of the United States Virgin Islands.”
Joseph’s food has been tasted at countless political and cultural events, and she was one of the founding organizers of the Crucian-Puerto Rican Breakfast held during the Christmas Festival.
In addition, Joseph was honored as a devoted civil servant, who spent her career working up the ranks of the Department of Labor.
Noted historian and lecturer Yosef Alfredo Antonio ben-Jochannan was honored in absentia. The Virgin Islands native is a luminary in the pan-Africanist movement for his research on the Nile River civilizations.
Ben-Jochannan is the author of several books, including “We the Black Jews” and “The Rape of Africa and the Crisis in Angola.”
Ben-Jochannan lives in New York and was not able to attend the ceremony.
Retiring Judge Patricia Steele was recognized for her years of service on the bench. Steele worked in Family Court and Sen. Sammuel Sanes, who appeared before her many times in his role as a social services advocate, praised her for always being fair and never treating children or families as case numbers.
Camille “King Derby” Macedon was honored for his contributions to Virgin Islands music. The calypso legend began performing professionally in 1966 and his music career has taken him all over the world. Locally Macedon is known as a quick-witted calypsonian whose cutting lyrics often roast the territory’s many politicians.
He is also the founder of Calypso Inc., an organization that teaches calypso and quelbe to children in the Virgin Islands.
While presenting the award, Sen. Usie Richards joked that the senators had gotten to talking about all the times they’ve ended up in one of Macedon’s songs and decided to revoke the honor. He then added that since he was retiring, there was no reason for him not to enter the calypso competition next year and take a few shots of his own.
Macedon took the ribbing in stride and explained that it was his job to sing whatever people were talking about, whether it was true or not. He said it wasn’t personal.
“I’m not a bad guy,” he said. Then, with a grin, added, “Sometimes.”
The Senate also honored two organizations for their devotion to improving the lives of the territory’s children: the Elena Christian Junior High Rocketry Club and the Virgin Islands Special Olympics.
A second ceremony will be held Thursday on St. Thomas to honor residents in that district.
