Lime New Building
Thursday, July 14, LIME saw the opening in grand style, what Country Manager Joseph Cassell In September last year, called a ‘history-making event’. Cassell had then sealed the deal with the Galloway Construction company with a firm hand shake to construct permanent buildings to house LIME’s offices, Retail Store and Customer Service Center.
The new premises is called ‘Heliconia House’, the word heliconia representing Montserrat’s national local flower. The buildings on the compound were all, as expected painted in the colours that represent LIME.
Minister Collin Riley
An ribbon cutting and opening ceremony with Claude Hogan as master of ceremonies, heard comments and addresses from The Honourable Chief Minister Reuben Meade and Hon. Colin Riley Minister of Community Affairs, Hon. Victor James, Opposition Leader, LIME’s CEO David Shaw and country Manager, Joseph Cassell. Bank of Montserrat Ltd. manager Michael Joseph gave brief remarks on behalf of the businesses using the services of LIME as one of the Major customers. Pastor Dr. Rev. Ruth Allen, Wesleyan Holiness church Father Mark Schammer of the Roman Catholic church, opened the ceremony with prayers.
Chief Minister Hon. Reuben T. Meade
Entertainment during the ceremony came from performances by the Emerald Community Singers who are celebrating their 40th anniversary. They performed folk songs of a religious nature as announced by he MC.
All of the speakers showered praise on LIME for its efforts to keep the island up to speed with Landline, Internet, Mobile and entertainment, while calling on them to keep moving ahead as the building suggests permanence.
LIME’s CEO David Shaw gave the feature address spoke briefly of his pride and commitment, and in part said: “Today, it feels like true LIME to be able to deliver on a promise and see the bright yellow Heliconia House – with LIME loud and proud at the top.…And so I am very proud to come back and see that we’ve done what we said we would which was to mark down permanency with this wonderful new building Heliconia House, LIME is here to stay in Montserrat and its always been and our commitment to the country is to continue to be part of rebuilding process that you’re going through…”
LIME’s CEO David Shaw
He added: “For customers, we have to be first in bringing innovative products to the Caribbean….It is our ambition, that when the history books are written, the story of LIME will not just be about products and services, but about improving life in the Caribbean…”
Minister Collin Riley recalled the history of LIME/Cable & Wireless early days from his boyhood and the first telephone booth erected in St. Patrick’s; noting that the telephone number was 2269 and remembering that the taxi stand number was 2261 in Plymouth on the water front, near the war memorial, the post office and treasury building. Taxi driver Reuben Furlonge he noted carries that number on his vehicle.
Country Manager Joseph Cassell
In his light hearted recount of LIME, he thanked lime for, “…giving the schools 75 free accounts for a new service they are offering which will allow our students access to content and other resources for education that are gained towards CXC and other examining boards…”
Country Manager, Cassell recalled in detail the history of the telecommunications company. He began: “It started in the early part of the 20th century when the first cables which connected Montserrat via the Eastern Telegraph network to the World were installed and commissioned.”
He outlined as follows:
1. “The early 1920’s culminating in the global Great Depresssion and its impact.
2. 10-12 years of global economic hardship through the 1930’s.
3. The impact of World War II. We lost some of our own in that major conflict.
Emerald Community Singers
4. The mass emigration of the 50’s and 60’s.
5. The growth spurt and stabilization of the local economy in the 1970’s.
6. The slowing of the economy in the late 80’s and who can forget Hugo which decimated/destroyed 95% of our housing and other critical infrastructure.
7. To the 90’s and current where Soufriere Hills has sought to break our spirit.
“But we persevered together. Eastern Telegraph to Cable and Wireless and now LIME.”
All this time he recalled that LIME had been supporting on the ground and mentioned that recently:
1. First sponsored computer lab in a school – MSS – $50 K.
2. Donation to the Golden Years Home Building Project – $250 K.
3. Annual Sponsorship for various community and national events – St. Patrick’s Week of Activities and the XMAS Festival Celebrations – $tens of thousands per annum.
4. The ongoing program of free internet for education, community and culture – all schools have been enjoying free internet for years now – annual value again – tens of thousands of dollars.
Audience
To put this all into context he says: “I think that is enough to create the context for my discussion. So what is next? Let me put it this way.”
“ At LIME we listen to our customers and we make it our business to respond to the needs and aspirations of our customers,” he concludes.
Note: You can read the speeches of Shaw and Cassell at www.themontserratreporter.com
Brief comments were made also by Adrian Galloway for the building contractor Galloway’s Construction, and a Vote of thanks by a LIME colleague/staff, Donna Buffonge.
The ribbon cutting was hastened as country manager Cassell had to cut short his address because of a temporary electrical failure. This was rectified in quick time to herald in the entertainment section of the evening. Refreshments with an evening of entertainment featured one of the Caribbean’s most popular and talented artistes Reggae Songstress Cecile. She was accompanied and joined by Antigua’s popular Cheeze Kake Band in a show that went well into the night.
