Statia’s oldest resident Mary Busby sitting on the porch of the Auxiliary Home wearing a face mask on her 101st birthday.
ST.EUSTATIUS--Oldest resident of St. Eustatius Mary Busby celebrated her 101st birthday at St. Eustatius Auxiliary Home on Saturday, September 19.
Members of the Statia community serenading Busby while social distancing is observed
Present at this joyous event were Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij and his spouse Courtney, Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis, Reverend Vincia Celestine of Bethel Methodist Church, United People’s Coalition (UPC) party leader Elvin Henriquez, Busby’s daughter Bunny Busby, her grandchildren Alsira Maharaj-Mitchell and Otencia Busby, and other family members and Statia residents.
Representatives of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis were also present, as Busby hails from Nevis, but has made Statia her home.
Normally a large gathering would have taken place for such a milestone, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that the island currently has active cases, the Auxiliary Home has closed its doors to visitors.
As no one was allowed on the premises, persons came to the gate of the facility and serenaded Busby while she stayed on the porch wearing a face mask. Cake, gifts, fruit baskets and other items were brought and delivered to Busby. Social distancing was observed during the celebration and everyone wore a face mask.
Van Rij and his wife said they had just returned from hiking The Quill volcano, but did not want to miss the milestone of Busby’s 101st birthday.
