Terrance B. Lettsome
|
The Honourable Terrance B. Lettsome |
|
|---|---|
| Member of Legislative Council | |
|
In office 28 November 1963 – 2 June 1971 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Leslie F. Malone |
| Succeeded by | Willard Wheatley |
|
In office 12 November 1979 – 17 May 1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Willard Wheatley |
| Succeeded by | Kedrick Pickering |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
28 August 1944 Tortola, British Virgin Islands |
| Died | 12 January 2007 (aged 62) Tortola, British Virgin Islands |
| Political party | United Party, Virgin Islands Party |
| Spouse(s) | Claudia Lettsome (nee Frett) |
Terrance Buckley Lettsome (11 March 1935 – 12 January 2007) was a politician after whom the main airport in the British Virgin Islands is named. Born Terrance Buckley Lettsome in Long Look to Francis Henry and Frances Lettsome, he was one of the Territory's longest-serving legislators and the ninth of 11 children.
He married the former Claudia Frett, a retired school principal, and was the father of four children, Bertrand Lettsome, Baines Bradley Lettsome (deceased), Brenda Lettsome-Tye, and Constance Scatliffe. His son Bertrand is the BVI Government's Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer. Lettsome received his early education at Long Look Infant School and East End Methodist School. Lettsome became a Methodist preacher in 1956. He also worked as a fisherman, farmer, photographer, contractor and entrepreneur, both locally and overseas.
Lettsome first was elected to the Legislative Council on 4 November 1963; during that term he, along with Lavity Stoutt and Ivan Dawson, formed the United Party. On 14 April 1967 he was re-elected to the Legislature under the ministerial system and appointed as the first Minister of Communications, Works and Utilities. He was one of the few legislators who served consecutive terms since the inception of the ministerial system. He retired in 1999 after 36 years of uninterrupted service to the 7th District.
Major changes that took place during his tenure include the building of multipurpose community centres; the establishment of police stations on all major islands; the provision of electricity and potable water; the development of ports at West End, Port Purcell and Road Town; the completion of the Central Administration Complex; and sea defense work on Drake's Highway.
As a tribute to his outstanding record of service, in February 2001 the Legislative Council voted to rename Beef Island Airport in Lettsome's honour.
In an interview with The Virgin Islands Daily News, Opposition Leader Ralph T. O'Neal referred to Lettsome as "a great soldier." He said Lettsome was a man who believed in his people and in the Territory.
...
Wikipedia