Published 20 August 2019
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
PM Harris says church support is welcome as St. Kitts-Nevis works to be the best managed small island state
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, August 19, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is positioning itself to be the best managed small island state in the world, and Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris is welcoming all the support from the church and from members of the community.
“For St. Kitts-Nevis to think that we are a small country, if we get it right we can be an example and we really want our country to be the best managed small island state in the world,” commented Prime Minister Harris. “We welcome all the support from the church, from members of the community, and from all the professional people who come and enjoy St. Kitts and Nevis to make a contribution in this way.”
Prime Minister Harris made the observation on Sunday August 18 while introducing international Clinical and Forensic Psychologist Dr Sharon Gopaul-McNicol during a worship service at the Word of Life New Testament Church of God, Central Street in Basseterre.
“I want to thank Dr Sharon Gopaul-McNicol who is here doing some work with us on the matter of national security and in particular in our efforts to ensure that those who have been involved in criminal activity see an alternative pathway and are given opportunities to participate,” said Dr Harris who is also the Minister of National Security.
Explaining why the government had brought the experience of Dr Gopaul-McNicol, the Honourable Prime Minister noted that all those who have been on the road to Damascus would have fallen short and “yet like Saul we can transform and so she is bringing her experience as an international clinical and forensic psychologist to work here in St. Kitts with our team leaders to ensure that the programmes we put in place are sustainable and help rid our country of crime.”
Prime Minister Harris, who is also the National Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) one of the three parties in the Team Unity Administration, was accompanied by members of the Constituency Number Seven Group, National and Branch Leadership and membership of the Peoples Labour Party, led by PLP National Chairman Mr Warren Thompson. Other National PLP officials included Women’s Representatives Mrs Sonia Henry and Ms Petrona Thomas, and Youth Arm Representative, Mr Manasses Huggins.
Also accompanying the Prime Minister to the church service included Ambassador His Excellency Mr Sydney Osborne, Ambassador His Excellency Mr Michael Powell, Director of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board Mr Antonio Maynard, Deputy Speaker Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett and her husband Mr Alexis Nisbett, and Prime Minister’s sister, Mrs Janine Harris-Lake.
Thanking Bishop Matthew Hepburn, his wife and leadership of the church, Prime Minister Harris noted that it had become a custom that whenever they came to that church they knew that they would receive a warm welcome and knew that the worship would be a blessing to their hearts. He wished for the church to continue to move in unity, and to move in strength, while doing the work of God.
“I want to thank the church for allowing us to come – allowing me as head of the nation to reaffirm my own faith in God,” said the Honourable Prime Minister. “Without Him I would not be standing here. Through it all, the ups and downs, the difficulties, the challenges that come, I can truly say like so many of you have said – I have learned to count on Jesus. May God continue to bless this church so that it will be a blessing to all of us in St. Kitts and Nevis, and to people everywhere.”
ENDS
Pix captions:
1: Prime Minister Harris pictured outside the Word of Life New Testament Church of God with some of the persons who accompanied him for the worship service.
2: Prime Minister Harris was given the opportunity to greet worshippers at the Word of Life New Testament Church of God.
3: Bishop Matthew Hepburn (left) introduces Prime Minister Harris to the congregation at the Word of Life New Testament Church of God.
4: International Clinical and Forensic Psychologist Dr Sharon Gopaul-McNicol greets the congregation after she was introduced by Prime Minister Harris.
