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Presents BUILDERS OF TORTOLA |
Janet Parsons Janet Parsons comes from Woodley, near Stockport, Cheshire, UK: part of the Greater Manchester area. She came to the British Virgin Islands in 1984 from Quatar with her husband Richard, who had job offer as an Associate with Harney, Westwood, and Riegels. The Parsons’ had a daughter when they arrived in the BVI and soon after arriving had a son. Although Janet had worked in the first Department Store in Quatar, she has not had ‘paid work’ in Tortola, concentrating on being a mother and a homemaker. After two years living in Greenbanks Janet and her family moved to their present home in Belle Vue. (There is also a Belle Vue in Greater Manchester – perhaps heightening Janet’s sense of place in her current neighbourhood.)
Wherever you are in the world, life can be more challenging for people without paid jobs, as most people need fulfilling activities in their lives. In addition to her family commitments Janet has been greatly involved in the various social aspects of life in the BVI particularly after her children went to boarding school.
At various times Janet has worked with the Humane Society, the Crisis Intervention team, the Botanic Gardens Society, as well as other groups. She is member and Past President of the Tortola Ladies Club – a commitment that involves her in various other charitable works (such as “Kids And The Sea” -- KATS). She also plays tennis regularly, leads aerobics classes and sings at the College.
Tortola has, of course, changed a lot in the past twenty-five years – and not just for people working on the island. Although Janet liked Tortola the way it was when she arrived, many changes in the past quarter century have been positive ones. However, ‘progress’ depends upon how you define it. Shopping of all sorts is now much better than it was. Local buying is easier (at e.g. Clarence Thomas and the Island Department store). There is no longer the same necessity for trips to St. Thomas, or the same need to cram ones suitcases on overseas vacations. As a consequence life is easier now for people who are just arriving in the BVIs. But it goes at a faster pace – which is not necessarily a good thing
In addition to improved shopping, of course, there have been many new and larger buildings constructed, and improvements in the number and quality of roads, plus better connections between people as well as ways of connecting with them (phones, internet etc.) There is also now a greater emphasis on tourism, and a significant increase in the number of cruise ships. Present-day Tortola has been designed for tourism in many ways. These changes have been a mixed blessing, however, as there are now more vehicles on the roads, more congestion, and more crime. Not good things if you prefer the slower pace of the old days.
In retirement Janet and her family hope to travel more, and perhaps spend more time in perhaps southern France or the UK, but they will always keep a place in the BVI, and never leave here, as it has become their home.
.Draft of December 20th of interview of December 16th 2009
Builders of Tortola Guide