(PLP PR Media Inc.) — Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, is underpinning his message that the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is a nation under God and is imploring parents to bring up their children in love and adoration for God’s work.
Dr Harris, who is also the National Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) which is one of the three parties in the ruling Team Unity Administration, made the remarks on Sunday August 27 at a worship service held at the Tabernacle Church of the Nazarene.
“We want to encourage every adult here to do what they should do, to bring their children up in the fear; in the admonition in the love of God,” said the Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of National Security. “Too many of our parents come to church leaving their children behind.”
He added: “There are consequences for those things. If church is good for you, it must be good for your children too. You can’t let the child determine when he or she will go to church, you must take the lead. You must direct and you must guide. I want to encourage all to bring up the children in love and adoration for God’s work, for God’s church, for God’s people.”
Resident pastor, the Rev Christopher Weekes, who introduced the Prime Minister and his entourage, said how pleased he was that they chose to come to his church at Stone Castle Tabernacle. However the sermon for the day was delivered by a visiting Church of the Nazarene pastor from Barbados, the Rev Dario Richards.
Accompanying the Prime Minister to the church service included Ambassador His Excellency Michael Powell, the Peoples Labour Party Deputy National Chairman Mr Craig Tuckett, and PLP Women’s Arm Representative Mrs Sonia Henry.
Others were Chairmen of the PLP Constituency Branches, Mr Wendell Wattley (Constituency Number Eight), Mr Cante Bowry (Constituency Number One), and Mr Glenville Mills (Constituency Number Five). Also present was Ms Petrona Thomas, Coordinator for the PLP Executive Constituency Number Four.
“St. Kitts and Nevis prides itself as a Nation under God, and indeed in our Constitution way back in 1983 we declared publicly that we are a nation under God,” Prime Minister Harris told the congregation. “And so we hope to do all things and to get the blessings of God, His guidance and direction upon our beautiful country and our beautiful people.”
The Prime Minister explained that the wishes and dreams of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis were many. He however observed that the Government would not be able to fulfil every individual dream but as a government he hoped that among the dreams were that the country would be a peaceful and a prosperous one under God.
He gave his assurance that his Government would work every day, doing what is good, what is right, what is wholesome, and upholding the love of God in the hearts of the people as they seek God’s admonition and encouragement.
According to Prime Minister Harris, the people of St. Kitts and Nevis have proved beyond any reasonable doubt that they are a praying people.
“I recall and I have said repeatedly that the last General Election on the 15th February 2015 was a praying election because all over our citizens, not only at home but also abroad, were praying for change,” said Dr Harris.
“Some like Nurse Garnette was brave enough to call in into the radio programmes hiking up their telephone bills to have an input and it was God’s will that the change should come to our country after twenty years of one regime.”
Their prayers were answered and the Prime Minister’s advice is for people to learn to build the country together, building it in unity. He noted that the challenge for Team Unity then was the fact that they had to cut across the party divide which signalled to them that they had to be open to all of the citizens. This he said, allowed them to rise and shine and do well in keeping with their God-given talents.
“So I commend that reminder to all of my Cabinet colleagues that we are a people under God, wanting to do the right thing for all the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” concluded Dr Harris. “We are about mid-term, we have completed a significant number of our promises and we feel encouraged by them, and we know the other half could only be successful with God under our wings.”