Urlings resident Bermaline Lake, who has been employed at Sandals Grande Antigua for 20 years, retired on Friday amidst well-wishers, showers of gifts and praises for her exemplary service and dedication to the sustained growth of Sandals Resorts.

Lake, 65, was presented with flowers, gifts and a commemorative plague from immediate colleagues and resort management at the celebration held in her honour.

Her manager, Executive Housekeeper Sharene Hall, describes her as the light of the department.

“Every time you see Bermaline there is always a smile and a smile gives a lot,” Hall said.

Lake joined the Sandals Grande family in 1996 at a time when the company was in its formative stages, and would have witnessed first hand the evolution of the Sandals product over the years including changes to décor and room standards, and the addition of the Mediterranean Village in 2007. She has also served under the direction of eight General Managers during her tenure.

General Manager Gaurav Sindhi extended heartfelt appreciation to Lake on behalf of the company’s Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart and CEO Adam Stewart, for her commitment to the growth and development of Sandals in Antigua. Sindhi has worked with Lake closely for the past two and half years.

“Every time I have seen you, you’ve got that smile, given me a hug, you have always lifted our spirits,” he said to her. “There are guests who came back just to stay in that block because that is where Bermaline works.”

Lake has been the housekeeper for the Frangipani (100) block at Sandals Grande Antigua for the past 11 years.

Adorned with a sash and presented with a “throne” to sit upon at her retirement celebration, the mother of four and grandmother of five was in high spirits and said she would miss working with her friends in the Housekeeping department.

Lake says she plans to spend her retirement relaxing, travelling abroad, taking cruises and spending time with her family, including her church family at the Urlings Wesleyan Holiness.