A new chapter of community-centered local governance has begun in Vieux-Fort, as Rhyesa Joseph officially assumed office as the town’s mayor, anchoring her administration’s priorities in grassroots participation, worker dignity, and celebration of the region’s distinct cultural and civic identity.
Joseph took the oath of office on Friday, August 21, during an inauguration ceremony that also swore in the full roster of members for the newly established Vieux-Fort South Constituency Council.
Bringing a rich professional and academic background to the role, Joseph previously served as director of the Folk Research Centre, and earned the distinction of valedictorian during her studies at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill. In her inaugural address, she framed her decision to accept the mayoral post as a commitment rooted in public service and collective responsibility, rather than personal ambition.
“While my stewardship will require the collective effort and support of councillors, staff, the community, private sector and the government, I asked myself, ‘Can I do any good here or be of any service?’ The answer was yes,” Joseph shared in her remarks.
Collaborative, inclusive governance sits at the core of Joseph’s policy agenda for Vieux-Fort. A top priority for the new administration is restructuring how local government operates, pushing for a cultural shift that recognizes the full value of municipal workers beyond their most visible public-facing duties.
Joseph outlined her goal to “usher in a new era of local governance where workers are respected and valued as more than street cleaners and democracy and development are community led”. Moving beyond internal administrative reform, she also laid out an ambitious long-term goal to position Vieux-Fort as a national benchmark for inclusive, sustainable municipal development, while investing more resources in amplifying and celebrating the town’s unique local history and identity.
In a departure from top-down development frameworks, Joseph emphasized that local residents hold a critical share of responsibility for shaping Vieux-Fort’s future, urging community members to recognize their own agency in driving progress. She pushed back against the idea that successful development models must be imported from external regions, noting, “Development is homegrown and need not be imported or copied for success.”
Closing her address, Joseph extended gratitude to the newly seated council members for their commitment to public service, as well as to the outgoing and continuing municipal staff who have maintained consistent operations for the town during the transition period.