ROMONA DIANA HALL was the first baby born for Independence but was soon joined by at least three others.
The newborn came into the world at 7:45 a.m at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after mother Lorna Jennings arrived at the hospital around 11 p.m. the night before. While she said it was a relatively lengthy birth in comparison to her previous ones, Jennings said she enjoyed the experience, thanks in no small measure to the nursing staff.
“This is my third child, although one died. It was an easy birth; I had good nurses and they put me at ease – a beautiful team. I had fun,” she said.
Jennings could not be happier about the new addition as she has another daughter, a seven year old. She said Romona was due on November 29 and she remembered thinking she might as well come on Independence. So thought, so done.
“I feel excited; she is gorgeous. I am in love,” she said.
Romona was followed by Christian Cutting, who was born via C-section at 8:20 a.m. His tired mother Ronique Brathwaite said she felt good her new son, the second one, was a part of Barbados’ Independence legacy.
Little more than two hours later at 10:42 a.m, Shataj Daquonte Alleyne emerged to proud mother Shaquan Griffith.
Below, Shaquan Griffith cradling her child Shataj Alleyne as proud grandmother Janelle Boyce and acting nurse in charge of the labour ward Rosemary Alleyne look on.
Over at Bayview Hospital, Hazel and Timothy Zervos welcomed their third child, Hythe Timothy Ioannys Zervos into the world at 11:29 a.m. (CA)
At left, the Zervos family (from left) Gideon, Hazel, new addition Hythe, Sway and Timothy.