J.R. O’Neal departed this life

The BVI community mourns the passing, earlier this week, of one of the Territory's stalwarts and a most outstanding pioneering entrepreneur, Mr. Joseph Reynold O'Neal.

Chief Minister of the BVI,  Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith said that Mr. J.R O'Neal "left an indelible mark on the Territory, he was instrumental in the BVI's celebration of Harbour Day. His name will live on, and we will remember him whenever we see his name on the Botanical Gardens or on J.R O'Neal drug store". Dr. Smith also mentioned that Mr. O'Neal was referred to every time there was a need to learn about the history of the Virgin Islands.

Leader of the Opposition Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal commented that "J.R O'Neal scored many firsts in the BVI; it will take time to recall all of them. I remember him to be the first to bring kerosene fridges to the BVI when there was no electricity. He could have looked at a face and determine their surname and tell that person a little about their parentage".

J.R O'Neal as most people called him was born in 1911 and has led a rich and varied life since. An entrepreneur who evolved into one of the titans of business leadership in the Virgin Islands, Mr. O'Neal also found time to devote himself to political and environmental affairs.

Mr. O'Neal has won distinctions and several awards for his many years of community service and for his leadership in the business arena. As Chairman of the National Parks Trust for some thirty years, he spearheaded the reforestation of Sage Mountain and Gorda Peak. In recognition of his work on behalf of the Trust, the Botanic Gardens in Road Town were named in his honour in 1998. In 1990, Mr. O'Neal was also named to the Global 500, a United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) honour roll of people who have contributed to the preservation of the environment around the world.

Mr. O'Neal was awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty the Queen in 1998, following M.B.E and O.B.E. awards. In 2002, he was awarded the Badge of Honour by the Government of the British Virgin Islands.

A date has not been officially set for Mr. O'Neal's funeral but his son Rey O'Neal suggested that it might be on Saturday 26 February..