Rena’s Radiance – Celebrating our Festival Village Honouree for the 70th August Emancipation Festival

“Do good and good will follow you,” is a life motto often used by the legendary Larina Jacobs-Lamothe, more affectionately known as Rena. Now, all the good Rena has given through her many contributions to the August Emancipation Festival over four decades is coming back to her in full circle with being honoured as the Festiville Honouree for the 70^th anniversary of the festival.

Rena’s journey began on Jost Van Dyke, where she absorbed the secrets of the kitchen from her mother, Adina, and her grandmother, Keturah. Since her early beginnings, she went onto earning a name for herself, over half a century of culinary experience. In addition to being a cook, her entrepreneurial spirit has pushed her into building diverse portfolio of businesses. Along with co-managing and cooking for her family business, Sidney’s Peace & Love Restaurant, she also owns rental properties, Rena’s Boutique, Rena’s Ice and Rena’s Taxi. Despite her various pursuits, cooking remains her true calling, and it is this love for the culinary arts that ultimately drew her to the emancipation festivities.

During the 1960s, Rena habitually participated in festival, using it as a social opportunity to meet friends. However, it wasn’t long before her keen eye picked up on the potential for profit. Harnessing her talent for cooking and her commitment to creating unforgettable customer experiences, Rena took a bold step forward and established her own food stall at the festival, offering a range of delectable local dishes, from savoury stewed whelks, conch, and fish to refreshing lobster salad and conch soup. With additional local favorites like stewed mutton and chicken, Rena’s cooking quickly captured the hearts of people far and wide while celebrating the rich heritage of the Virgin Islands.

Over the years, Rena’s humble booth blossomed into a beloved treasure at the festival, becoming known for even more than her food. With her guiding principle, “do good and good will follow you,” Rena’s passion and dedication to providing exceptional experiences for every guest earned her a reputation as a stalwart of Virgin Islands hospitality. Over the years, many have applauded her for being the true essence of warmth and welcome.

Rena’s entrepreneurial spirit has profoundly influenced her children, Glendon “NJAR” Lamothe and Glennisa Lamothe. Her son Glendon, for instance, owns several successful businesses. Through his efforts, he has in turn given back to his mother and contributed to further advancing Booth #3’s reputation by helping to attract international music sensations like Jada Kingdom, Beenie Man, and Morgan Heritage. When the international artists visit the Virgin Islands, they often seek recommendations for dining and activities, and word about Rena’s booth spreads quickly. “She always says a happy customer speaks about your business,” Glendon shared when crediting his mother’s success to her stellar customer’s service. As a result, Rena has consistently been highly recommended as one of the best places to eat in the festival village.

In celebrating the 70th August Emancipation Festival, the decision to name the festival village after Rena, pays homage to her enduring influence and remarkable contributions which serves as a reminder of the importance of cherishing our past while embracing the present. Let her legacy inspire you to actively take part in preserving and celebrating our rich cultural heritage, ensuring that our traditions thrive for generations to come.