Published 29 April 2017
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 29, 2017 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — As persistent showers characterised St. Kitts’ Atlantic coast early Saturdaymorning April 29, scores of health conscious and walk enthusiasts journeyed to Belle Vue where they joined Prime Minister and Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) Dr the Hon Timothy Harris for his monthly Constituency #7 health walk.
The first walkers had arrived a few minutes to the usual starting time of 5:30 am, but because of the poor weather the majority came slightly later which saw them set off at 5:56 am following a prayer by one of the PLP’s prayer warriors, Mr Erickson Wescott.
The walk had an added attraction as the PLP National Secretary Ms Myrtilla Williams had announced that there would be prizes for the youngest walker and the oldest walker. This propelled the nine-year old Master J’quan Thomas from Constituency #4 who was on his first attempt to lead all the way and arrived in Ottley’s at 7:06 am closely followed by 44-year old Mr Lorenzo Rogers of Old Road, also in Constituency #4.
But as luck would have it, Master J’quan Thomas, a student at the Tyrell Williams Primary school was not the youngest finisher. This honour went to seven-year old Miss Macayle Woodely from Cayon, who is a student at the Factory School. But when keen observers felt that Ms Myrtilla Williams would run into trouble not knowing who to give the prize for the youngest, she came up with a surprise.
Awards were made available and presented by the PLP Political Leader and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr the Hon Timothy Harris who had himself finished the walk, not only to the youngest walker and the top finisher, but also to a third young walker, 10-year old Master David Junior Webster, a student at the Tyrell Williams Primary School.
There was drama, although not evident to everyone present, when officials had to scratch their heads to determine who the oldest finisher was. One Mr Stedmond Davies from Tabernacle who admitted that he was not sure of his age, but put it at 85 was almost named the winner, but he again admitted that he had not walked from the starting point. This left the honours going to 65-year old Ms Patricia Vivian ‘Vera’ Hope, also of Tabernacle.
Ms Petrona Thomas, of Middle Island in Constituency #4 was on her second health walk, having participated in the last one which was held on Saturday April 1. She found the walk quite an important undertaking and on this walk (Saturday April 29) she brought along her son, Master J’quan Thomas who demolished the field and finished in the first position.
“To be quite honest I can’t even express the way I feel about his victory,” said Ms Thomas. “I am somewhat proud and I would basically speak to a few words from the Bible that say, ‘children shall lead the people’, and indeed he did a great job this morning.
“He came out and he displayed determination; he displayed endurance and he basically showed that small people we are small as a nation, but we are talawah as a people. I basically wish to add too that I enjoy being on the walk because being on the walk promotes healthy lifestyles and I must add and say that a healthy nation is wealthy nation.”
Ms Thomas encouraged other persons to come out at least once a month and take part in the walk. She advised those who have not taken part in the walk that after the gruelling trek from Belle Vue, walkers are treated to a healthy breakfast.
