Published 1 November 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
No representation from the Office of the Prime Minister at Sanitation Service, health ministers also absent
Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 1, 2017 – There was no representation from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health at Sunday’s special service for sanitation workers at Government House under the patronage of the Governor General His Excellency Sir Tapley Seaton.
Although the name of the prime minister and his ministers were printed in the booklet at the 16th annual Sanitation Workers Service at Government House on Sunday, there was no representative from the Office of the Prime Minister, where there are the Cabinet Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Huggins; two Permanent Secretaries, Mr. Osbert de Souza and Mr. Andrew Skerritt and the Press Secretary, Ms. Valencia Grant; or the Ministry of Health, where there are two ministers, Hon. Eugene Hamilton and Hon. Wendy Phipps. The post of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health has been vacant for well over a year.
“When Pastor Lincoln Hazel of the Apostolic Faith Church and his congregation, under the auspices of our Governor General, encouraged, celebrated and honoured sanitation workers for 15 consecutive years and not even one minister of government was present to celebrate such an occasion with those who sacrifice their own health and lives on a daily basis as they clean our streets and keep our verges groomed as part of their daily chores to ensure that our country is in a sanitary condition for our residents and our visitors,” said Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L, Douglas, who attended the Government House event.
“Why no minister of government is there? Why do we have the pastor’s wife reading the message from the prime minster printed in the booklet to the congregation? Why not the cabinet secretary or a minister or the junior minister? The name of the prime minister is printed in the booklet to make a statement. The minister of health is listed to make a statement. None of them shows up. Why this kind of disrespect to His Excellency and the sanitation workers? Why the disrespect to Pastor Hazel and his congregation? asked Dr. Douglas during his weekly radio call-in programme “Ask the Leader” on Tuesday.
It is understood from top church officials that there was frantic rush by officials in the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday and Tuesday to get a copy of the booklet and photos of the occasion at Government House.
“There also appears to be no interest from the prime minister and his ministers who were also absent on Sunday evening at a ceremony organized by the St. Kitts and Nevis-Cuba Friendship Association to bid farewell to outgoing Ambassador of Cuba to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Hugo Cabrera,” said Dr. Douglas.
Prime Minister Harris was also listed to speak at the farewell event. Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Osbert de Souza was present and gave brief personal remarks.
Photo 1 – Government House
Photo 2 – His Excellency the Governor General Sir Tapley Seaton
photo 4 – Leader of the Opposition the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L, Douglas (left) and outgoing Ambassador of Cuba to St. Kitts and Nevis, his Excellency Hugo Cabrera
