Published 26 April 2019
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
PM Harris: Team Unity has responded equitably, reasonably and compassionately to all
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 26, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — The Team Unity Administration has made the largest and best response ever in the history of the country in relation to the challenges of disaster, according to Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Sustainable Development, National Security, People Empowerment, and Constituency Empowerment, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris.
“We have been careful and considerate and compassionate in our programmes,” said Prime Minister Harris on Thursday April 25 at a house handing over ceremony on Catholic Street Extension in Molineux to Ms Euta Hodge, a mother of ten, who lost her house after the passage of two category five hurricanes in September 2017, Irma and Maria.
According to the Prime Minister, his Team Unity Government has responded equitably, reasonably and compassionately to all in St. Kitts and Nevis irrespective of their party affiliation.
Making reference to the aftermath of the two hurricanes, Dr Harris noted that in the initial phases so many people were happy just to be alive, and some were not concerned about the damages that would have been caused. He praised Ms Euta Hodge for being the courageous mother, and father, to six of her ten children who were living with her.
“Today Euta is here,” said the Prime Minister. “She has withstood the natural storm, she has persevered and now she is here standing and she can say thank God that her life has been spared.”
The Honourable Prime Minister added: “Today she can say thank God for the Team Unity Government, because in her lifetime she will not remember any other period where there was a significant hurricane of a category five, and where the government responded in the manner in which the Team Unity Administration has responded in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. I want her to recognise that over last year-plus, the government has helped with housing repair – over 2,000-plus households and families.”
The house handing over ceremony which was chaired by Mr Warren Thompson, Deputy Chairman of the NEMA District Seven Volunteer Corps, was also addressed by National Disaster Coordinator of NEMA Mr Abdias Samuel. Making brief remarks was the Project Manager Mr Kevin Williams.
In attendance included the Deputy Speaker, Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mrs Delores Stapleton Harris; Ambassador Michael Powell; Ambassador Sydney Osborne; Director of the Department of Social and Community Development, Mrs Ann Wigley; the Director of Gender Affairs, Mrs Celia Christopher, and Chairman of NEMA Volunteer Corps in District 7, Mr Maurice Benjamin.
“This is the quality of government that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis deserve, and this is the kind of government that you have now and you have to treasure the government,” implored the Honourable Prime Minister. “Support your government, promote your government and continue to stand with your government.”
Dr Harris further stated: “You have seen governments at work before Team Unity. None has performed the manner in which the Team Unity Administration has performed in the last four years. When you look at the overall picture of support by the Team Unity Administration, over 3,000 families have been provided support in the four years of the administration.”
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: Prime Minister Harris with Ms Euta Hodge, her daughter Ms Valencia Hodge and Ms Euta Hodge’s other children in their new home on Catholic Street Extension in Molineux.
2: Prime Minister and Area Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Seven delivering remarks at the house handing over ceremony.
3: Prime Minister Harris congratulates Ms Euta Hodge after she received keys to her fully furnished two-bedroomed house.
4: Ms Euta Hodge cuts the ribbon to her new house in the presence of Prime Minister Harris and some of her children.
5: Ms Euta Hodge proudly shows Prime Minister Harris the kitchen of her new house. With them is community elder, Mr Ericson Wescott.
