Published 14 September 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Prime Minister Harris says young people have a role to play in country’s development
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, September 14, 2018 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris has said that the over 13,000 young people attending schools between early childhood and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) can also contribute to the building of a more successful St. Kitts and Nevis.
Prime Minister Harris made the observation on Wednesday September 12 at the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School in Molineux as he addressed students of that school and those from the Violet Petty Primary School in Lodge as part of school visits by Cabinet ministers as part the 35th Anniversary of Independence Calendar of Events.
With the Prime Minister was Minister of Agriculture and Health et al, the Hon Eugene Hamilton, on a tour of schools on the north-eastern side of St. Kitts which started at the Cayon High School where Cayon Primary School students were also present. Second stop was in Molineux, third stop was at the Edgar T. Morris Primary in Tabernacle which was also attended by students from Estridge Primary School in Mansion, while the final stop was at the Saddlers Secondary School which was also attended by students from the Saddlers Primary School.
Accompanying them during the tour which started at 9:00 am and ended at 1:15 pm was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr Vincent Hodge. The same exercise was carried out on the western side of St. Kitts, which was led by the Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Shawn Richards, along with the Hon Lindsay Grant, and Senator the Hon Wendy Phipps.
At the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School they were received by Principal Ms Suzette Cannonier, and Principal of the Violet Petty Primary School Ms Kathuel Browne. In attendance were 120 students of the host primary school and another 85 students from the Violet Petty Primary School.
Addressing the attentive students, and their teachers, Prime Minister Harris told them of the five Explorers Clubs which he noted were formed to give young people a chance to develop good values and to develop strong relationships of working together. The pioneering Mol-Phil Explorers Club draws a large section of its membership from students attending the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School.
“It is important that we give as much solidarity to young people, and independence reminds us that as a young nation we must depend upon the young people to execute their potential as responsible persons if our country is to move forward,” said Dr Harris, who noted that 65% of the nearly 60,000 persons in St. Kitts and Nevis are below age 35.
“And you the students will have to help us by ensuring when you see your mother smoking, you tell her ‘mother stop smoke, the Prime Minister said that is bad, and Dr Hazel Laws (Chief Medical Officer) said that it is bad for our health’,” the Prime Minister advised the attentive students, further telling them to inform their school principals, without calling names, if they see any one smoking.
Dr Harris observed that teachers have to be sensitive to the general physical environment and how it impacts upon students’ responsiveness to learning in the classroom, ending by saying: “We have to develop our PTA programmes to help address some of these issues that are out there in the communities impacting upon young people’s abilities to learn.”
Prime Minister Harris delivered a similar message at the Edgar T. Morris Primary School, which he noted that it was his old school in the days it was called the Tabernacle Primary School. As part of his address he quoted Bible scriptures which teach that ‘A child will lead’. Welcoming them was local Principal Mr Dale Phipps, and the Principal of Estridge Primary School Ms Mercia Dore, teachers and students.
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: PM Harris addressing students of the J.O. Williams, and Violet Petty Primary Schools. On the right is PS Vincent Hodge, and in the foreground is Principal Ms Suzette Cannonier.
2: Prime Minister Harris addressing students of the Edgar T. Morris and Estridge Primary Schools. The venue was at the Edgar T. Morris Primary School in Tabernacle.
3: Students of the Joshua Obadiah Williams and Violet Petty Primary Schools are seen hugging the Prime Minister after he delivered remarks on importance of independence.
4: Prime Minister Harris took time to greet all the students individually. He is seen with students of the Edgar T. Morris and Estridge Primary Schools.
5: Minister Hamilton also greeted all the students who were assembled at the Edgar T. Morris Primary School in Tabernacle for the Independence 35 visit to schools by Cabinet ministers.
