ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, March 21st, 2012 -- Fellow Virgin Islanders, as Minister for Health and Social Development, it gives me great pleasure to address this Territory and pay tribute to our social workers, as the Social Development Department observes Social Work Week, under the theme, “Social Work: Every Person Matters”.

Social work is a profession for those with a passion to help improve people's lives. In the Virgin Islands, our social workers play a pivotal role in shaping and developing the people of our communities, at every level.

The men and women who have devoted their lives as social workers, have helped the people of our country to overcome some of the most difficult obstacles in life, including poverty, abuse, addiction, physical illness, unemployment, educational problems, disability, and mental illness to name a few.

Additionally, social workers have prevented a number of crises in the Virgin Islands by counseling many individuals, families, and communities, and teaching them how to cope more effectively with the daily stresses of life, The Social Workers of this Territory fundamentally believe that our strength as a people depends on the ability of our citizens to lead productive and healthy lives.

To achieve this, many professional social workers can be found in a number of our Government offices such as the Education Department; Peebles Hospital;

Community Mental Health Services; the Social Development Department; Sandy Lane Center; the Office of Gender Affairs, and they can also be found in non-governmental organizations.

Our social workers are the eyes, ears and voices that identify and address the gaps in our social systems that impede the full participation of individuals or groups in society. Our Social workers also have an ethical obligation to advocate for social changes that will benefit the men, women, youths and the vulnerable groups in our communities.

Social work is not a glamorous job; however, as a career, social workers have a tremendous capacity to influence our society for the betterment of all. Strengthening people and providing support are two pillars of the social work profession; and we should recall the social work pioneers in the Virgin Islands, such as Mrs. Eugenie Todman-Smith, Ms. Ermine Penn, Mrs. Edith Penn, and the late Joshua Smith, who highlight our social workers’ unwavering dedication to our people.

The hours are tough, as the social challenges faced in the Territory are constant. But our social workers understand that in order to help our people to achieve success, it requires determination, devotion and a sense of purpose to make a conscious difference for those who are truly in need.

Every person matters, and as Minister for Health and Social Development, I invite you, the citizens and residents of these Virgin Islands to join me in celebrating and supporting the Social Work profession and Social Work Week 2012. I thank you.

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