Stoutt, H. Lavity (Hon. Chief Minister)

~ Celebration
of the ,Life
of
7he 2-lonorable 2-L. ,Lavity Stoutt
7 c../Warch, 19 29 - 14 c../Way, 1995
CW!ure there is no vision the people perish.
Proverbs 29:18
2-lonorable 2-l. ,Cavity Stoutt
Chief ~inister
~inister of 3inance
:funeral Service
CWedncsday, 24 ~!1• 1995
7.Jiewing: 1:00 - 2:00 pm. Service: 2:00 pm
2wn 2-lill Ultethodist Church
:Jnterment at the Cappons fBay Cemetery
2-lonorable 2-l. ,Cavity Stoutt
1929-1995
try with the late Wilfred Smith of Towers, West
End. His carpentry trade was short lived when
he met the late A.D. Watts, who readily spotted
his leadership skills and abilities
and offered him the opportunity
to be the salesman for his products. This he did successfully for
years.
Although Lavin; was successful at what he did, he was unhappy. He noted that too many
persons in his community had
nothing to look forward to, following completion of their primary school education. He envisioned becoming a member of the
Legislative Council in order to
make a difference for his people
and his country.
In the mid-fifties, when the
more recently deceased I.G.
Fonseca, another brilliant B.V.I
leader - may the angels accompany them both into heaven
where they shall enjoy everlasting peace- when Mr. Fonseca and
his party came from Road Town
to Lavity' s constituency to lecture,
H.L. was always the person who
welcomed and introduced them.
Having observed his ability to
speak and his interest in the community, the late I.F. Fonseca remarked, "This young man will
one day be your representative."
That day came when in 1957, at
the age of 28, H. Lavity Stoutt was elected by his
people to the Legislative Council. His 1957 victory became a launching pad for a most successful political career which spanned almost four
decades of continuously uninterrupted public ser-
On March 7, 1929, a happy occasion occurred
in the lives of Isiah and Idalia Stoutt of Long Bay,
Tortola. A baby boy was born to the happy
couple.
They named him
Hamilton Lavity. His early childhood was pleasant, though unt
eventful, until at the tender age of
eight, his father died, leaving him
and his eight other siblings in the
care of his devoted and loving
mother. It was at his mother's
knee, that Lavity was initially
trained for service to God and his
fellowmen. He saw love in action
as his mother communicated with
God daily, while constantly lending a helping hand to various family members, neighbors and
friends. These Christian values
permeated his whole being
throughout his entire life.
Lavity received his early education at Zion Hill Methodist Elementary School and the Virgin
Islands Secondary School. His
sharp wit and ardent yearning to
be the best caused him to discipline himself to read extensively.
H. Lavity had an eye for real
beauty, when in 1956 he married
the lovely Hilda Smith of Carrot
Bay. This union produced six children. His love, devotion, caring
attitude and calm, yet firm approach were indicative of the
model father and husband he had
been. In the early fifties, when everyone was
leaving the B.V.I. for greener pastures, Lavity
decided to remain in his beloved Tortola and he
envisioned a brighter day for the B.V.I. While
waiting for that brighter day, he studied carpen-
3
vice. The various offices he has held during this
time include: Member for Works and Communication, Minister of Education, Minister of Natural Resources and Labour, Opposition Leader,
Minister of Finance and he was elected to an
unprecedented four terms as chief minister. "Our
Chief Minister," It would be impossible to list all
other offices held by H. L. here.
The Honourable H . Lavity Stoutt' s interest in
people did not stop
with the social, physical and intellectual
aspects of life, the
moral and spiritual
development of his
fellowmen were as
much a concern to
him. Lavity lived out
his existence as
though he has had a
personal contact with
God. His life was a
living testimony to
this. He maintained
a good relationship
with people; he displayed thoughtfulness, concern and
consideration for all.
He gave personal assistance to people in
their daily struggle to
survive and deflated
situations of conflict
wherever he could.
He gave so much love
where there was so much hate. He was guided
by Romans 12:21 "Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good." He had a knack for
making people feel at ease and happy or simply
good about themselves. He was a true community leader. A man who lived for others, the
young and the aged were always on his mind.
For him youth was to education as age was to
preservation, each relative to the other. His solutions - he founded the B.V.I. college, which now
bears his name, and he established a Social Security and other related programs for Senior Citizens.
The Honourable H. Lavity Stoutt had a profound faith in himself and the British Virgin Islands. His battle cry was "Where there is no
vision, the people perish." He became our own
"BVI Visionary Plenipotentiary" throughout his
entire 38 years of public service to the people.
His initials, his signature, his name "is"
everywhere within
the shores of our own
beloved British Virgin Islands . The
progress attained
during his time was
a direct result of his
long sustained outstanding leadership
acumen. He has
helped to develop
within each and everyone of us a deeper
sense of pride in who
we are. A true Britisn Virgin Islander, a
proud people who
can walk with our
heads held high.
Let us pledge to
honour his memory
by our commitment
to personally becoming visionaries ourselves for our homeland. Let us pledge to especially support those
leaders who are committed to carry on Chief Minister Stoutt' s approach to leadership - with vision, to insure that these beloved British Virgin
Islands shall never, ever perish due to a lack of
vision on the part of our future elected leaders.
As we pay our last respects to one whom we
loved so dearly, we find comfort in the thought
that Honorable H. Lavity Stoutt lived his life to
the fullest in service to his God, his country and
4
2l£S
his people. The British Virgin Islands
today, as compared to 38 years ago
when "Our Chief" undertook to commence his stewardship role on behalf
of his people, is representative of a
country with a substantial number of
improved communities, individually
and severally, which are presently postured for meaningful planned growth
and development, specifically designed to impact favorably in the not
too distant future for the good of the
people of the British Virgin Islands.
Lavity would like to see this work
continued on behalf of his people. Let
us honour his memory by pledging to
pursue all of his programs to their successful accomplishments.
On May 14, Mother's Day, the
Honourable H. Lavity Stoutt, responded to the "Master's Call," May
he find eternal peace and everlasting
rest within the arms of our dear Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Lavity, we commend you to God!
You have certainly earned the right to
an undisturbed, peaceful rest at his
closer side. Farewell, my Chief, thank
you for the wonderful gift of service
which you have accorded your people
for so long!
5
State 'Tu1zeral
'For 'Th~e
cYiief. :Jvfin ister
CJ}-\Tfze rBritisfz Vir!Jin Island)
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:: ~· - ctay. :Z--1 .\lay. 1995
: o:OOam
THE LEGACY •••
May, 1988, - Mr. Stoutt presents BV1 coins to former
Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young while in Atlanta for
Tourism Sales Blitz program.
Chief'M;
T 0 ' tnister Han. H L .
·
Neat on
. .' avuyStoutt
Londonz'near/ia vzsu to BuckfnghandHon.Ralph
er tunes·
am Pa!ace zn
.
November 1988 - Chief Minister presenting gzft to HRH
Princess Alexandra at Peter Island Hotel on behalfofthe people
ofthe BVI.
March 1990 - At the Commonwealth Heads of Government of
Caribbean and Canada meeting in Barbados, Mr. Stoutt chats
with former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
II
One of the many projects he spearheaded, Chief
Minister Stoutt at the 1992 ground breaking
ceremony on the grounds of Government's new
Central Administration Building.
12
The ChiefMinister breaks for a laugh as he escorts His Royal
Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh in the Central
Administration Building who visited the BVI in March 1993.
The Chief Minister who was also Minister for Tourism cuts the ribbon
marking the reopening ofLittle Dix Bay Hotel on Virgin Gorda, December
1993.
STANDING TALL. The Chief Minister opens the
door to his office in the new Central Administration
Building after the official opening in May, 1994.
The Chief Minister presents a cheque to BVI High School students to help
finance their prom, June 1994.
A PROUD MOMENT' Chief Minister Stauff forms part of the
procession for the first commencement exercises at the H Lavity
Stoutt Community Go/lege, June, 1994.
13
Students ofthe Isabella Morris Primary School pose for a shot with the
visionary leader Han. H Lavity Stoutt.
ALWAYS IN CHARGE. Chief Minister Stoutt hosting
ChiefMinisters from British Dependent Territories for
a one-day meeting in the BVI in August, 1994. (1-r
former Deputy Chief Minister, Robert Hall, TCI and
former TCI Chief Minister, Washington Misick, and
on right Anguilla ChiefMinister, Han. Hubert Hughes.)
Governor Peter Penfold shakes hand with Mr Stoutt after being sworn
in as ChiefMinister for a third consecutive term in February, 1995.
THE MAN OF THE HOUR Han. H Lavity Stoutt
speaking in the house at the first session of the 13th
Legislative Council March, 1995, eight days after being
elected as Chief Minister for a third consecutive term.
14
e
Tribute From
H. Lavity Stoutt Community College
Over a decade ago, in 1982, the Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt began to articulate his dream for
the establishment of an institution of tertiary education which would address the human
resource needs of the British Virgin Islands. Against many odds, the commitment and
determination of Chief Minister Stoutt saw realization of his vision with the opening of
the British Virgin Islands Community College -- later named in his honour -- on 14
January 1990. With the unflagging commitment and support of Chief Minister Stoutt, the
College has, over the past five years of its existence, grown from strength to strength.
It was Chief Minister Stoutt's firm conviction that "education is the foundation upon
which we must individually build our future and collectively, that of the British Virgin
Islands." The loss of his leadership in the development of educational services at all
levels-- primary, secondary and tertiary-- is inestimable.
It is with deepest sorrow that the members of the Board of Governors, Executive Officers,
Administrators, faculty, and staff of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College convey to
the family of our late Founding Chairman, Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt, our heartfelt
condolences at this time of bereavement.
34
The family extends its profound gratitude to all BVI citizens and residents, well wishers, all
members of of the international community, especially the visiting dignitaries and the many other visitors
who made the sacrifice to share in our bereavement here in the British Virgin Islands.
Thank you for your expressions of concern and your kind consideration.
May God's blessings attend us all.
The family
The Staffofthe Department oflnformationand Public Relations, Office of the Chief
Minister, took great pride in working overtime to prepare this book for a man who always supported us, our work and pushed us to produce even more for the people of this territory.
His sudden and untimely passing was a shock to all of us. He will be greatly missed and
will remain in our hearts and thoughts.
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''Where there is
no vision the
people perish.''
H. Lavity Stoutt
1929- 1995
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