Vieux Fort South has a new mayor, with Rhyesa Joseph taking the oath of office on Friday, August 21, alongside a newly sworn-in council.
The ceremony was described as an important moment for local democracy, with Vieux Fort South Parliamentary Representative Danny Butcher urging the new council to be visible, transparent and proactive in serving residents.
Local Government Officer for the South, Lyra Chicot, said the occasion represented more than a formal transition of office.
“This occasion is not one of just tradition, pomp and circumstance, but one to celebrate the heartbeat of our democracy, grassroots governance,” Chicot said.
She said the swearing-in served as a reminder of the responsibilities attached to public office.
“It is a solemn reminder that public office is to serve. It is where promise meets duty and where our newly elected leaders formally step forward to answer the call of service to this constituency,” she said.
Butcher told the newly installed council that it was assuming office at a significant period for Vieux Fort South.
“Council, you assume office at a period of great transition. You assume office at a period of great opportunity for Vieux Fort South,” he said.
He challenged the council to maintain a visible presence within the community and ensure residents are aware of its work.
“I encourage you to make council visible, to make it imaginative, to make it proactive, and to make it transparent,” Butcher said.
“The people must see you. The people must hear you. The people must feel your presence. They must know that your concerns matter and that council is ready to act, then simply react.”
Butcher also pledged to work alongside the council while respecting the different responsibilities of local and central government.
“As your parliamentary representative, I pledge to remain accessible to the best of my ability. I want us to work as partners, recognizing our respective responsibilities, but united in one objective,” he said.
“And that objective is the advancement of Vieux Fort and the improvement of the lives of Vieux Fortians.”
He expressed confidence in the collective abilities of the council members, pointing to their experience and diverse skills.
“You have skill sets that are wonderful. You’re highly opinionated, you’re full of experience, you have diversity when it comes to knowledge and know-how,” Butcher said.
“But I always believe if you put together, this would be the best council Vieux Fort South would have ever seen.”
He encouraged the members to approach their responsibilities with determination and cooperation.
“Let us serve well, let us serve together, and let’s move Vieux Fort forward,” he said.
In her first remarks as mayor, Joseph outlined an agenda focused on community participation, workers’ welfare and locally driven development.
She said her role would involve working with the council, staff, residents and both local and national stakeholders.
“My role will be with the help of the council, staff, community, local and national stakeholders and central governments to one, usher in a new era of local governance where workers are respected and valued as more than street cleaners and democracy and development are community-led,” Joseph said.
She identified several priorities, including positioning Vieux Fort as a model for municipal development.
“Two, allow Vieux Fort to lead in local governments and model municipal development,” she said.
Joseph also said the council would seek to strengthen the community’s understanding of its own identity and achievements.
“Three, tell and celebrate the unique Vieux Fort South story,” she said.
“Four, remind our people of their value and ownership of their development.”
She stressed that successful development does not necessarily require communities to replicate models from elsewhere.
“Development is homegrown and need not be imported or copied for success,” Joseph said.
Joseph also expressed gratitude to Butcher and the Cabinet of Ministers for her appointment.
“I wish to thank the Parliamentary Representative, the Honourable Danny Butcher and the Cabinet of Ministers for this appointment,” she said.
The new mayor and council now begin their tenure with a stated focus on strengthening grassroots participation and ensuring that development in Vieux Fort remains closely connected to the needs and aspirations of the community.