St. Maarten bids farewell to St. Kitts-born Methodist minister

St. Maarten’s Prime Minister the Hon. Sarah Wescott-Williams (right) bids farewell to Rev. Charles Seaton (left) and his family

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 16TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts-born Superintendent of the Methodist Circuit in St. Maarten, Rev. Charles Seaton is leaving the Dutch island after the end of a three-year tour of duty.

Rev. Seaton, who is being posted to the British Virgin Islands Circuit, was bade farewell at a ceremony at the Philipsburg Methodist Chapel.

“Reverend, you have served the Church and I dare-say St. Maarten during times when every so often we needed to be reminded to remain focused on what we wanted to do and what we wanted to achieve and I thank you for being there through that time and serving the community of our Country,” said St. Maarten’s Prime Minister the Hon. Sarah Wescott-Williams.

She thanked Rev. Seaton for “giving direction to St. Maarten through joining hands with other churches and with Government in giving the direction necessary for the island. Naturally when I make these statements I am referring to the ever-lingering questions on the separation between the state and the church. And today I can proudly say that on St. Maarten that is not an issue for discussion anymore while it could have been otherwise,” said Prime Minister Wescott-Williams.

The Prime Minister in expressing thanks on her own behalf and that of the Council of Ministers wished Rev. Seaton and his Family, God speed and many blessings in his new posting.

The farewell service was also attended by His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday and the Minister of Education, Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Hon. Silveria Jacobs.