DR. THE HON. D. NELETHA BUTTERFIELD, M.B.E., J.P., Ed.D
Dr. the Hon. D. Neletha Butterfield M.B.E., J.P., Ed.D is the founder, owner and director of a computer school and an alternative learning centre called C.A.R.E. which stands for Children and Adults Reaching for Education. She founded the learning centre and computer school in November 1983.
EDUCATOR
As a single mother of three whose own pursuit of education as an adult enabled her to provide for her family, she understands the importance of a sound education. She has dedicated her life to educating as many Bermudians as possible. She is an author, a computer education consultant, a former Computer Lecturer for the Government Community School, a former lecturer at the Bermuda College in computers, English and mathematics and a former instructor of mathematics, reading. African studies with the Bermuda Correctional Facilities education department, in addition to teaching the GED programme that she introduced to the prison system for the first time in 1984.
In the forty-two years since C.A.R.E. started, she has helped more than eight hundred adults obtain high school diplomas and assist4ed over 5,000 young people in after-school programmes, camps, computer assisted instruction and training. She has also used her educational skills to help inmates at the former Senior Training School and Casemates Prison, the Prison Farm, Coed Correctional Facility and Westgate Correctional Facility, where one hundred and fifty inmates received their GED (high school diploma) and over three hundred and fifty inmates under her tutelage received basic education skills and computer training. As the founder of the General Education Development (GED) programme and the computer programmes in the correctional facilities, in 1985 she held the first graduation programs and graduation ceremony continues to be held annually and she currently volunteers her time teaching the G.E.D. Programme to inmates. She has also tutored young men from Reachout Rehabilitation Centre, His House, The Residential Care Centre, Focus Counseling Services, Turning Point, young women from Fair Haven, Teen Services and the Brangman Home and both men and women from Addiction Services. In June 2010, she held the first graduation class for Life Skills Programme to recovering addicts.
September 2002, her business C.A.R.E. Learning Centre enrolled for the first time from the Ministry of Education and Development, thirty (students) from CedarBridge Academy and The Berkeley Institute in an alternative education programme called “Project Success” for young teenagers.
MEMBERSHIPS and BOARDS
She is the President of the Bermuda Business and Professional Women’s Club, member of the Pembroke Community Club, Western Stars Club, the Leopards Club International Bermuda, the co-founder of Prison Fellowship Bermuda and a founding member of S.T.A.R. (Supportive Therapy for Aids Victims and their Relatives), Past Vice-President of the Orchid Charity Club, a steward and a former coordinator of both the singles and prison ministry and a former trustee at St. Paul A.M.E. Church. She was the first and former chairman of the Treatment of Offenders Board and the Historic Building Advisory Committee, a former commissioner of the Board of Telecommunications and chairman of the first Joint Select Committee on Education in the House of Assembly under the PLP Government.
AWARDS and CERTIFICATES
She was voted Bermudian of the Year in 1988, in 1989 received the Community Service Award from the Bermuda Business and Professional Women’s Club, in 1993 the Outstanding Service Award for her community involvement from the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton and in March 1994 received The Best of Bermuda Gold Award for her outstanding work as an educator. February 24th, 2002 during Black History celebrations, she received from the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Incorporated (Bermuda Club), the highest honour given to a woman, The National Sojourner Truth Meritorious Service Award for her meritorious community service and her deep concern for and participation in all activities advancing the status of women.
Known as “Honey” Butterfield she is an energetic community worker and educator who is much in demand as a public speaker both in Bermuda and internationally. Her overseas speaking engagements have included the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Washington D.C., The Computer Curriculum Corporation, California, The People’s National Party (PNP) Women’s Movement, Jamaica, United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc., Washington D.C., the House of Lords, United Kingdom, QKingdom Ministries, New York and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization-Geneva, Switzerland.
In February 2004, the Hon. D. Neletha Butterfield was inducted into the International Association of Business Leaders. The following year February 2005, she was selected out of 7,500 well qualified nominees for the “International Association Business Leader of the Year 2005 Award”. She received this international award in 19th March 2005. The following week 26th March, 2005 she received another international award “Women of Great Esteem” from the QKingdom Ministries, New York, Proclamation Awards from New York State Senate, Senator John L. Sampson for her exceptional services and Senator Carl Andrews in recognition of his highest esteem and respect and Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in recognition of her outstanding and invaluable service to the community from Congressman Charles B. Rangel. On November 26th, 2006 the Grace Methodist Church of Bermuda during the 100 Women in White Service presented her an award in recognition of her outstanding “Community Service”. On February 27th, 2009 she received an award from St. Paul A.M.E. – Hands of Faith Ministry for her “Community Involvement and her support to the Ministry”. In the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours and Awards she was awarded a M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) for her contribution to community education and her work for over 25 years in Her Majesty’s Prisons. On the 4th September, 2009 by the Women’s Integrated Network presented her with the Bermuda International Women’s Leadership Award and on 5th September the “Lifetime Achievement Award”. On 8th March, 2011, during the 100th anniversary celebration of International Women’s Day she was honoured as one of Bermuda’s 100 Women of Vision. Certificate of Appreciation – West Pembroke Pentecostal Assembly 2013, Pearson VUE certified test Administrator on 4th April, 2015. Chautauqua Award presented on 22nd June, 2018 at the YPD Conference Branch of the African Methodist Episcopal Church iRock Awards. Niyah Publishing Recognition, Dearborn, Michigan on 14th October, 2018. On the 23rd March, 2019 the Rochester Genesee Valley Club of the National Association of Business and Professional Women’s Club recognized her as the International Literary Artist honoured guest. On 7th April, 2019 the Crystal Butterfly Literary Award from the Atlantic Publishing House. On 2nd January, 2020 she was honoured to be a quest on Smile Jamaica TVJ in Kingston, Jamaica where she talked about her role as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister in addition to showcasing her books.
She was conferred on 2nd January, 2021 with an Honorary Ed. D (Doctrin de Education Award) in community development through alternative learning and enrolled at the University of the West Indies studying for a degree in Youth Development Work.
On 11th November, 2023 she received the Distinguished Service Award from St. Philip A.M.E. Church, Women’s Day Committee. On 6th February, 2024 she became an Adult Education Retention Specialist from COABE (Coalition of Adult Basic Education), responsible for providing retention support systems including coaching, mentoring and supplemental instruction. Her work has been published in an educational guide entitled: “The 6 Anchors of Student Retention” with Essential Education (USA). In her role, she strives to ensure the retention, success and college readiness of students affected by social challenges. She was recognized by Paget Primary School on 22nd February, 2024 for her contribution to her island home as an educator, politician and an author during their annual Black History Museum event. Dr. Butterfield believes in lifelong learning, from 2020 until recently she has achieved certificates in “How to Maintain Professional Relationships with Adult Students”, “Keeping Students Engaged for Hybrid Learning and Hyflex Classroom”, “Record Management and Communication” and is a certified “Distance Learning and Virtual Classroom instructor.”
POLITICAL CAREER
Her political career, the Hon. Neletha Butterfield represented the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party (PLP) in the Pembroke West Central constituency as a candidate in the 1993 General Election. She was appointed to the Senate by the late L. Fredrick Wade, Opposition Leader of the Progressive Labour Party on 8th October (her birth date) where she was the spokesperson for Education, Community and Cultural Affairs, Youth Development, Sports, Parks and Recreation and Women’s Issues. The general election of 9th November, 1998 she successfully won a seat to the House of Parliament after a decade of work in the constituency of Pembroke West Central.
She served as an opposition senator in the Senate from 1993-1998 and in 1998 was elected to Parliament where she helped in forming the very first Progressive Labour Party government. She served as a Member of Parliament for Pembroke West Central from 1998-2012. She brought to parliament her expertise, experience and enthusiasm in assisting those in the community and her country Bermuda. She served in the House of Parliament as a Government “back bencher” from November 1998 – October 2002. She was appointed for the first time in 1998 by the Premier, the Hon. Jennifer Smith, DHumL, JP, MP to the executive board of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association of the Caribbean, the Americas and Atlantis region as Bermuda’s representative, a position she was re-appointed to in 2008 by the President of the Senate, the late Hon. Alf Oughton and retired from this executive position in December 2012. As a member of the executive board, she represented Bermuda in several Caribbean countries in the region and throughout the commonwealth such as: London UK, Jamaica, Anguilla, Guyan, Trinidad and Tobago, Malta, Malaysia, Tanzania and Zanzibar, Africa.
On October 8th, 2002 (her birthday again) she was appointed to the Cabinet by Premier Smith as Minister without Portfolio, spokesperson in the House of Assembly for the Ministry of Housing and a Justice of the Peace.
In the election July 24, 2003 she retained her seat in constituency #18 Pembroke West Central with an overwhelming victory in the new electoral districts. She was re-appointed to the cabinet by the Premier, the Hon. W. Alexander Scott, J.P., M.P. as the Minister of the Environment and on 2ndSeptember, 2006 Premier Scott appointed her as Minister of Education and Development. In the change of the PLP leadership in October 2006, the newly elected Premier, the Hon. Dr. Ewart F. Brown, J.P., M.P., appointed her on 30th October 2006 as the Minister of the Environment, Telecommunications and E-Commerce, a portfolio she held until December 2007. With approximately 20 years of dedicated service, commitment and expertise to the legislature, she proudly returned to the Government back bench from December 2007 –June 2009. She was re-appointed to Cabinet as the Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation on 23rd June, 2009. In another leadership change on 1stNovember, 2010 she was appointed as the Minister of Government Estates and Information Services under the Cox administration until 31st October, 2011. She now has retired from the political arena after 20 years of service to her country and spends some of her time in Jamaica where she finds peace and solace writing her memoirs.
It is believed that she holds the record for overseeing the most cabinet ministries in the history of Bermuda and has served under four Premiers, the Smith, the Scott, the Brown and the Cox administration. Some of her achievements and accomplishments while serving within seven (7) cabinet ministries are highlighted:
Some of her achievements and accomplishments while serving within seven (7) cabinet ministries are highlighted:
2004 Bermuda Costal Erosion Report (Hurricane Fabian aftermath)
2005 Community Areas Programme (CAPS) – William F. Wilson Park – Pembroke, Ladies Chamber Park – Pembroke, Pig’s Field Park – Pembroke, Harlem HeightsPark – Hamilton Parish and Olive Bank Park – Warwick.
2005 Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) bus
2006 Bermuda’s first State of the Environment Report
2010 Formation of the Women’s Council to focus on Women’s Issues
2011 Photography Initiative: Through the Lens: See What they see
2011 Cisco Network Academy at the Bermuda College
PERSONAL
Because her educational foundation was obtained in the Bermuda public school system, she believes strongly that the Bermuda public schools must be kept viable. Many of her interests and skills for what she has accomplished came during her early years and feels honoured by the establishment of C.A.R.E. in 1983 an alternative learning centre and computer school.
She states “To God be the glory things He has done and to the village that raised me and made me who I am today”.
As a woman of strength and perseverance, it is through her trials and tribulations that her personal philosophy is based on the scriptural text in Romans 8:28 – “All things work together for good, to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose”. Her belief is that, “If you can give an individual a fish, he has food for a day, but if you teach him how to fish he has food for a lifetime.”
She is now retired from the political arena after 20 years of service to her country Bermuda and 42 years as an educator at C.A.R.E. Learning Center. She is an author and has published and released eleven books. “Speeches for the SOUL”, “Workshops for the SOUL”, “Political Beginnings for the SOUL”, “The SOUL of a Community Leader”, “17 Trailblazers Who Walked with Purpose”, “Study Skills for the SOUL”, “Educating the SOUL behind the Prison Walls”, “Student Essays for the SOUL” and “Earth Day Expressions from the SOUL”, “Good Vibes Only for the SOUL” a book of poems written by her son the late Treadwell Kirkland Buttefield in his memory who was magically killed in a single fatal road accident and “My SOUL’s Journey through COVID 19” her survival story during the pandemic.
She will release soon, “The SOUL of C.A.R.E.” over 42 years of alternative learning, instructing the Bermuda community with academic skills and computer skills.
She is the mother of three children, Jeffrey, Kirkland (deceased) and Bay-Letha, grandmother to nine grandchildren, one great-grandson Saint and four great grand-daughters Neveah, Navi, Amayah and Rhylee.
Her personal interest is the history and culture of people and country, reading, travelling and in her spare time she danced and performed with the Bermuda African Dance Company.
“The purpose of life is to be useful, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” “The purpose of life is to live it to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”