Carolette Virgo - working to make a better place

Karrie Williams, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:Pleasant, unassuming, and caring, 38-year-old Carolette Virgo has made volunteerism her life's mission as she seeks to serve the people of her hometown, Granville, in the hope of making the community a better place.

A past student of the Maldon Secondary School (now Maldon High), Virgo said she has always had a passion for helping others, even if it meant that she had to make major personal sacrifices along the way.

"I love helping people, and my community is very dear to my heart. I enjoy being able to assist in making positive transformations to the lives of my neighbours, and I will continue to do my best to bring upliftment to every community member in Granville," she said.

Virgo, who has a certificate in practical nursing, is currently a farmer, specialising in the growing of exotic fruits and vegetables, which she sells to hotels in Montego Bay and its environs.

She credits her partner, Carl Johnson, for helping her every step of the way.

"He is my tower of strength. He helps me with everything that I set out to do. He is integrally involved in every aspect of my life and work and I am able to accomplish all that I have because he is by my side," Virgo said.

Virgo also expressed appreciation to Mark Kerr-Jarrett of Barnett Estates Limited and Carolyn Brown James of the Social Development Commission (SDC) for spearheading funding efforts and other forms of support for many of the community's initiatives of which she has been a part.

She highlights a beautification project now ongoing at the Granville All-Age School and the wider community as benefitting from one such funding effort. Through the project, members of the Granville Parenting, Rehabilitation and Beatification Group, for which Virgo serves as president, have already repainted a classroom, along with several desks, and constructed a new sidewalk at the entrance to the school.

Virgo, who is also mother to 21-year-old Sashagaye Williams, said her dream is to see Granville develop into an attraction that would appeal to the tourism market. She says she and other members of her community are intent on making this transformation happen in the near future.

"Granville is full of resources for development, and the people are all excited to see the community develop into a tourism attraction. On a regular basis, tourists are driven through Granville on their way to visit other attractions, and sometimes they stop and take photos because they are fascinated with our community," she said.