Delores Christopher was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands.

Early life and education

Delores Christopher was born on 27 October 1947. She was raised in Long Look and earned a diploma in executive secretarial studies at Duffs College in Barbados, as well as a certificate in public administration at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

Career

Christopher was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly from 8 December 2011 to her death on 16 October 2018. She was elected as the Representative for the Fifth Electoral District for the National Democratic Party (NDP) and served as a Government Backbencher of the Legislative Council from 2003 to 2007 and as Deputy Speaker from 2005 to 2007. She was the third woman ever elected to the territory’s legislature.

Christopher also contested general elections as an atlarge candidate in 1999 — the NDP’s first election — and in the Fifth District in 2007.

In 2011, she was again elected as Fifth District Representative and appointed to serve as Deputy Speaker until her recent passing.

Her achievements include:

• Founding Member of the Association for the Advancement of Small Business (AASB)
• Founding Member of Annual Street Fair “Christmas on Main Street”
• Founding Member of the “Buy BVI” Trade Show
• Establishment of the Crafts Alive Village

Christopher first became a Public Officer in 1968 when she joined the then Chief Minister’s Office. She served as Head of the Trade Investment and Promotions Department, Government of the Virgin Islands from 1993 to 1998. Previously, she was Senior Administrative Officer, Trade and Investment Promotions Department  Attached to the Eastern Caribbean Investment Promotions Service, Washington, DC, USA from 1990 to 1993. She was also Administrative Officer in the Office of the Chief Minister, Government of the Virgin Islands from 1988 to 1990.

Personal life

Christopher was married to husband Robert Christopher and was the mother of three children - Troy, Art, and Najan.

Death

Christopher died at her home on 16 October 2018 at the age of 70. She was accorded an Official Funeral on Saturday, 3 November 2018 at the Sea Cow’s Bay Methodist Church, BVI.S