The wish of a retired vice-principal was realised yesterday, six years after her death, when $.6 million was donated to the Presbyterian Church for the construction of an elderly home.This was the dream of Violet Vilma Bharath, 77, a devout Presbyterian and member of the Aramalaya Presbyterian Church, Tunapuna, who left instructions in her will that a piece of land she owned be sold and the proceeds be shared among her brother, sister and the church.Bharath had no children and was never married.
Yesterday, her nephew and executor of her estate, Claude Bharath, handed over the cheque for $600,000 to the church at a simple ceremony at the Presbyterian Church office,Paradise Hill, San Fernando.Bharath, a chartered accountant, of Fir Tree Crescent, Lange Park, Chaguanas, said his aunt was given the land by her late brother Ralph Bharath who came up with the idea to assist the church to build a home for the age.
"Her will said to build a home for the age. That was her desire. She felt that so many people devote their life to the church, grow up in the church and when they get old they have no where to go. "We wanted a Presbyterian home for our elders. The Presbyterian Church only has one such home, the JC Mc Donald Home in San Fernando, but none in north Trinidad."When his aunt, retired principal of the Tacarigua Presbyterian School, died in 2009, the family began making arrangements to fulfill her instructions as laid out in her will.
Additionally, Bharath pledged to donate a further $100,000 from his personal funds to the church when construction begins."The terms of the agreement which we signed today stated that the church would put the funds in a bank account established exclusively for this project. People wishing to donate further to the home's construction can put money into the account."
Expressing his gratitude to the Bharath family, Aphzal Ackbarali, general secretary of the Presbyterian Church said:
"We are very happy to receive this because we have a home for the age in south, JC McDonald Home, and this is an opportunity for us to have one for north."Ackbarali said they would respect Violet's wishes to have the church built in Tunapuna, "somewhere in that vicinity (of the Aramalaya church). We have lands in that vicinity and also in Austin Street. The exact location we are not as yet sure."He could not say when construction will begin. "No definite plans have been made as yet," he added.
He said the church was aware that Violet had left some money in the will for the church, but did not know the quantum.Asked if the home will be named after the Bharath family, he said the details of the project were yet to be discussed.
