Published 17 February 2020
Buckie Got It. St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Team Unity Administration effectively responding to needs of the least among us, says PM Harris
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, February 17, 2020 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, while enumerating key achievements of his Team Unity Administration in the five years it has been in office, has said the government has shown compassion to the least in the society by responding to their needs in tangible ways.
“We gather today to give thanks for the blessings bestowed upon our Federation,” Prime Minister Harris told worshippers at the Rivers of Living Water Christian Centre in Lime Kiln on Sunday February 16, at a thanksgiving service held as part of Team Unity Administration’s fifth anniversary celebrations being observed under the theme ‘Team Unity 2020: Delivering a Stronger, Safer Future’.
In abiding with the biblical admonition to show compassion to the least in the society, the Team Unity Government made a determination that households earning less than $3,000 a month deserved a top-up. A compassionate response of $500 per month was provided through the Poverty Alleviation Programme, where over 4,000 households are benefiting.
“When we became conscious that cancers were everywhere and no doctor seemed to have the explanation we set up an oncology wing at the Joseph N. France Hospital,” said Dr Harris. “Oncology wing is the big name for cancer centre, where people can go and get treatment and care and some relief. That is how we have responded.”
Prime Minister Harris further stated: “The least among us are our children who have lost their way somewhere on life journey. We describe them as ‘at risk youths’; we describe them as gang-men; we describe them as those who are engaged in antisocial behaviour. But when you listen to their story as I have, and many of you have, you can feel that somehow our society allowed them to fall through the cracks.”
The government, Dr Harris stated, has sought to respond to at risk youth by encouraging them to a better way and a better approach to life and living. It includes jobs that offer an honest day’s pay and telling them it is better for an honest day’s pay than to go stealing, and killing, and crucifying people, and coveting others for what they have through hard work.
“We are with them, and have designed a number of plans to help them get there,” said the Prime Minister. “There are counsellors from our school system and from other areas who are working with them.”
He requested those in church to pray for the initiative, and to pray for peace and orderliness while telling them that peace is godliness. He added: “The future in my view can be bright, and the future must be bright if we get down on our knees and pray.”
The service, which was held under the theme ‘Praying for and Supporting our Government Leaders’, was delivered by Apostle Dr Allan Isaac who said: “Every child of God has a divine obligation towards the government of the day – we have an obligation. Your attitude towards the government will determine the altitude of your life.”
The thanksgiving anniversary worship service was also attended by Governor General’s Deputy His Excellency Michael Morton, and Mrs Morton, Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Shawn Richards, Cabinet Ministers the Hon Vance Amory, the Hon Ian Patches Liburd, the Hon Lindsay Grant, the Hon Eugene Hamilton, the Hon Vincent Byron, and the Hon Wendy Phipps, and Deputy Speaker Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett.
