By Admin. Updated 6:58 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The Northern Grenadine island of Mustique marked a historic moment today as the Mustique Indigenous People Association (MIPA) named the Mustique Community Hall after local educator Ms Doreen Simon.
The ceremony highlighted Ms Simon’s enduring legacy as the first indigenous resident to have a significant landmark named in her honour.
Mustique, privately owned and renowned for attracting the wealthy elite, was purchased in 1958 by Colin Tennant, later Lord Glenconner, when it was already home to a small number of local families.
Successive government agreements have since safeguarded the rights of these original inhabitants and their descendants amid the island’s luxury development.
Born on 14 November 1933, Ms Simon dedicated nearly 50 years to education on the island. She served also as a Post mistress, and a headmistress on the island, among other roles. Her son, Mr Conrad Simon, recounted that at a MIPA meeting, Mr Hamlet Trimmingham proposed renaming the hall in her honour—a motion unanimously approved. The Mustique Company Ltd, which manages the island, endorsed the decision.
Now 92, Ms Simon was unable to attend due to severe dementia and being bedridden.
Mustique Company Managing Director Mr Roger Pritchard praised her contributions, stating: “Teachers play a very important part in our lives, and as you heard, she was a teacher here on the island for nearly 50 years, from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. And there’ll be many people here who were taught by Doreen, and there are many people overseas, as you heard, who have been taught by Doreen.”
“And whether it’s six, seven, eight years through junior school, primary school, before going back to the mainland, teachers have a big impact on our lives. And the heart and soul of this island is the people who live and work on the island.”
“And that’s a lot of the people who are here in the audience today. And for those of you who were influenced, mentored, taught by Doreen, I’m sure a little bit of Doreen has rubbed off on you. And that’s rubbed off on the island, because we’re very fortunate to have such a strong community, and have such strong personalities like Doreen.”
“So I’d like to thank everybody here for your contribution to Mustique and to the community. I’d like to thank Doreen for being a very important part of the development and the evolution of the community. And thank MIPA for taking this opportunity to rename the hall in honour of Doreen,” Mr Pritchard said.
MIPA which represents the interests of members of the indigenous community in Mustique plans to honour another icon soon.
Mustique has approximately 150 residents in the indigenous community. Added to that are those who have migrated from the island and their offspring.
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