Tonya Phillips Leads Community Project in St. John’s Rural South as Part of Labour Queen Pageant Initiative

Contestants in the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Queen Pageant are being tasked with community-based projects as part of their participation, with Miss St. John’s Rural South, Tonya Phillips, focusing her efforts on roadworks support, youth engagement and outreach to vulnerable residents.

The initiative, organized by the Queen’s Committee, requires each contestant to undertake a project within her constituency aimed at giving back and making a tangible impact.

Phillips has partnered with St. John’s Rural South MP Daryll Matthew in ongoing road rehabilitation efforts, lending support to improvement works in the area. The project forms part of her broader approach to community involvement, which she says is grounded in direct participation and service.

Beyond infrastructure support, Phillips has maintained a visible presence at community sporting events, particularly backing the Ottos basketball team. Her involvement, organizers say, is intended to encourage youth participation and morale.

Her outreach also extends to visiting shut-ins within the constituency, where she spends time checking on residents who are unable to leave their homes, offering companionship and support.

The Queen Pageant Committee said the “Queens with a Purpose” initiative is designed to promote leadership, service and community engagement among contestants, positioning the pageant as more than a cultural showcase.

Phillips’ activities reflect a wider push within the programme to encourage young women to take active roles in community development while building leadership skills.