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I spent Thursday in Barbuda and had one of the more humbling experience in my life beating out that which I had when I went to Grenada to cover the damage done to that Island by Hurricane Ivan on 9th a September, 2004.
Then Prime Keith Mitchell said "We are terribly devastated...it is beyond imagination!"
His words follow me around every single step I took in Barbuda, every photograph I stopped to make.
Many scoffed when Prime Minister Gaston Browne gave his dollars and cents estimates but I would dare to suggest that his figures might have come in a bit on the low side.
This, however, is if Barbuda is to be rebuilt and not just repaired and rebuilt it must be.
Barbuda's rise from the rubble begins!!

Thanks Valerie G-B.
With credit to the family of Teacher Geneveive Smith...this is the woman cheated of "earthly glory" when the new Potters school was not named in her honour.
Sacrilege!!!

I met a woman, a most wonderful woman, during my stint as a features writer with The Antigua Sun newspaper.
Her name is GENEVIEVE (TEACHER GEN) SMITH and I can honestly and humbly say that she left an indelible impression on my life, not to mention the lives of scores of young people in the Potters community and beyond.
I certainly stand corrected as I interviewed her almost two decades ago but I believe at that time Teacher Gen Smith, who is from Potters Village, had raised some 19 children, the vast majority, if not all, she had adopted.
By now, the numbers must have grown.
I am of the firm belief that the new school in Potters ought to have been named in her honour.
The people of that village are doing her and themselves a major injustice in meekly accepting any other name for that facility.
Surely it cannot only be politicians present and past, who have legacies worth highlighting, praising and maintaining!
I do not expect a modern Cabinet team to know of this mostly "saintly" Anyiguan woman never mind to suggest that her name be emblazoned on such a magnificent structure.
But I would expect those of the community who know better would seek to make it known that a grave injustice was being done to this divine human being who refused to let poverty dampen her spirit of caring and sharing and who put countless others before her self so that they may grow to be great citizens of this country.
It had nothing to do with putting one's money where one's mouth was because she barely spoke anything of what she has undertaken.
If ever a scripture verse spoke of a modern woman it must be 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 of GENEVIEVE SMITH... Teacher Gen
P.s: I do have an image or two of Teacher Gen but it is to place hands on them at this time.
I am therefore asking if anyone has one to share, please do so.
Antiguan need to be able to recognize this mother of mercy and grace.

Valentine's Day may be long over but the competition is not!!!
Kee sending your free entries, showing images of love, until 28th February.
Visit illustriousphotos.com

Fort James' life guard lookout... seems like one of the best seats in the house!!
See illustriousphotos.com for more Caribbean top shots
Timothy Payne

The beauty of nature in Antigua.
See illustriousphotos.com for more top shots by Timothy Payne.