Published 21th June 2020
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has gone through the difficult period brought about by the coronavirus pandemic largely because its people have faith in God, and believe in prayer.
“I believe through this difficult period it was, and will continue to be our faith in God that has seen us through this,” said Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris on Sunday June 21 when he addressed worshippers at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Lemon Hill, Bourryeau.
He added: “We are a people who believe in prayer, and believe in God – know that He is our shelter and that He would protect us. Certainly as we look back, and we see what is happening around the world, we can say God has been with us in St. Kitts and Nevis for to date no deaths, nor admissions and all those who were tested positive (15 in total) have nicely recovered.”
The church service which was held on the day the world observed Father’s Day (June 21), was also attended by Governor General’s Deputy His Excellency Mr Michael Morton, and members of the new Team Unity Cabinet including the Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Shawn Richards.
“We say thanks to the Almighty Father for looking after us during this period and for giving us His love,” said Prime Minister Harris. “It is appropriate to give thanks to our Father especially today – it is Father’s Day and there is no better Father than the Lord Jesus.”
A father of two daughters, Prime Minister Harris thanked all the fathers in the congregation especially for what they do in their families and in their communities and further thanked them for their contribution in making St. Kitts and Nevis safer and stronger. His younger daughter Miss Shaiyan Harris was in the congregation.
“The sacrifices made by our fathers are often unsung and can at times go unnoticed,” said Dr Harris. “So I want to thank you for being there for your children – for guiding and supporting them through good times and bad. Today is the day for all us to let the fathers know that we see them and that we appreciate them and that we love them.”
The service was moderated by Pastor Michael Pinney, and delivering the Father’s Day message was Evangelist Lawrence Knight. Cabinet Ministers in attendance were the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, the Hon Eugene Hamilton, the Hon Lindsay Grant, and the Hon Senator Wendy Phipps.
“Today we do rejoice and we give thanks as a government, as a people, as a Team Unity Movement,” the Honourable Prime Minister had said in his opening statement. “We give thanks because at this time in our country we have peace – not war. In our country we are free to worship and in our country all of us can look forward to a future of hope. We are a blessed country and even at this time we marvel at the cool breeze that is blowing this Sunday. Our most important asset, our greatest blessing of course is the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, full of energy, full of expectation, and with your unlimited capacity to excel.”
Making reference to the Covid-19 crisis, Prime Minister Harris reminded that Pastor Michael Pinney had also admonished the congregation that the crisis is not over, and that he had urged persons to still put on their masks while outside, and to do social distancing and advocated that is how the country will get out of the crisis.
“I have been impressed throughout this period by the excellent work and sacrifice being made daily by our health practitioners and I want to single out Dr Hazel Laws our CMO, Dr Cameron Wilkinson, our Medical Chief of Staff, and indeed the High Command of the National Emergency Operations Centre led by Abdias Samuel,” said the Prime Minister. “Through their work, they really made us all proud and helped to keep us safe.”
He commended Senator Wendy Phipps for her leadership of the Health Ministry during this difficult time, and he welcomed the new Minister of Health the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett to the hard work of seeing the fight through to the end. He also placed on record the outstanding support the security forces have been and publicly commend the exemplary leadership of the police by Commissioner of Police, Mr Hilroy Brandy.
