The saying “home is where the heart is” definitely stands true for the three winners of the 2017 Starcom Network Home For The Holidays competition.
Two of those winners were given a true Bajan welcome home on Friday evening at the Grantley Adams International Airport. They were greeted by the sounds of the tuk band, loud cheers, warm hugs, and bright smiles from family and friends who waited eagerly to see them.
They were also treated to an intimate reception at the airport where they were presented with their prizes from the various sponsors.
For Vicky Skeete, the wait was almost to much as she shifted impatiently from foot to foot waiting to get her first glimpse of her mother Sophia Thuler-Skeete, who lives in Switzerland.
Skeete said she was excited to get her mother home, after not seeing her for 11 years.
“My son Joshua Greenidge is the one who brought up the idea. He wanted to see her. I feel so excited that I got to see her after 11 years. I always thought about writing in but it was always limited to certain areas so when I heard it was open to all over the world we decided to write in. We have so much planned for her,’ Skeete said.
When Thuler-Skeete emerged from the doors in the arrival hall, her grandson jumped into her arms and the two shared their first ever embrace.
Suzette Farrington, who arrived from Tortola, was moved to tears when she got the first glimpse of her waiting family. Farrington said it was an overwhelming feeling being back home for Christmas for the first time in more than 20 years.
“It’s a wonderful feeling. I’m overwhelmed with joy to know that I’m here with my family after decades of not being here and spending Christmas with them. I stood back a little bit. I’m not a person that likes to be in the media. But they made it so easy for me to accept” she stated.
Farrington said after experiencing Hurricane Maria which ravished the British Virgin Islands, she had a much greater appreciation for family and everything around her.
“I live in Virgin Gorda, one of the islands that make up BVI. It was hard when Maria hit. It was a difficult one. I’ve never seen anything like this. But it brought us to a place where we could really appreciate life and the things around us, because of the devastation that we saw. So I’m really looking forward to family time. It’s so important to spend time with your family and love each other. Barbados is home for me, and it feels so good to be back,” she added.
The other Home For The Holidays winner Joyce Chandler-Skeete arrived from New York last Wednesday. (DB)
