A Century Of Blessings: George Alexander Becomes A Centenarian

This Christmas Eve, we celebrate a new centenarian. George Alexander, of Moraldo Street in Maraval, celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by family, including his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even his great-great-grandchild. Born in 1924 in the North Coast village of La Fillette, Mr. Alexander says he owes his health and strength to his family, healthy dietary choices, and, most importantly, God. According to Mr. Alexander, he never believed he would live to see 100, but says that as long as you have a good heart and mind, and ask God for what you truly want, He shall deliver. "Hear good, I asked the Lord, I say 'Lord I want to have four children, just so you know.' I say, 'I want to have four children, a boy, a girl, a boy, a girl,' and that's what I get. A boy, a girl, a boy, a girl. He say ask for what you want. Ask for it and He give me, just like that." His daughter, Luanna Waithe, loves taking care of her father and is filled with joy on this day as their family celebrates this milestone. "He just love his belly, and like he said he doesn't eat meat, so that is the difficult part. He don't eat rice, nope he don't eat rice, so provision, he will eat macaroni, potato, and stuff like that. . You give him bake, he love his fry bake, love fry bake and he makes it himself. So if I go by the stove to make fry bake, his own coming out better than mine. I don't know what he does but he has a boss hand with that fry bake." Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Donna Cox, presented Mr. Alexander with a certificate of honour and achievement and a medal in recognition of him becoming a centenarian. "So we so happy to celebrate this occasion with you. At the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, you know we care about our elderly and therefore, we celebrate our centenarians. And of course we have our medal, we commissioned a gold medal for you and this gold medal, it has your name on it and your date of birth, so we are going to pin on this gold medal on you." Mr. Alexander, who has four children, nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, plans to celebrate with his family and friends.