Late Labour Movement stalwarts remembered at annual Requiem Mass

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 28TH 2012 (CUOPM) – Scores on residents joined Governor General His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian and Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas in paying tribute at a Requiem Mass on Sunday to commemorate the life of public service to the Federation by late leaders of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Movement.

FRONT BROW – Minister of Health, Hon. Marcella Liburd; National Secretary, Mrs. Diana Humphreys-Williams; Former Minister/Parliamentarian, Mr. Rupert Herbert and Sir Edmund Lawrence; BACK ROW – Former Minister/Parliamentarian, Mr. Cedric Liburd; National Executive Officer, Dr. Vance Gilbert; Deputy Party Chairman and Minister of Education, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty and Minister of Public Utilities, the Hon. Dr. Asim Martin

Minister of Health, Community and Social Development, the Hon. Marcella Liburd, a former Speaker and Senator in the National Assembly, gave the feature address and highlighted the role of women in the Labour Party and the Labour Governments empowerment of women in the public service.

National Executive Officer, Dr. Vance Gilbert leading the congregation in the Prayers of Intercession

Ms Averil Gumbs reading her poem

In attendance were Ministers of Government, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Hon. Curtis Martin, Sir Edmund and Lady Lawrence; representatives of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, the Executive Officers and Members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, family members and a wide cross section of the local community.

Following the singing of the National Anthem by Yushaner Jeffers and Nya Chiverton of the Charles E. Mills Secondary School, National Political Leader of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Deputy Chairman and Minister of Education and Information, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty read the First and Second Lessons respectively.

This was followed by a dance by Ms. Desi Browne, a 2011 Remarkable Teen and student at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College; a rendition of “Faith of our Fathers” on the steel pan by former Minister of Health and Social and Community Development, Mr. Rupert Herbert, “One More Time” by Mr. Alex Condell on the saxophone and a beautifully-rendered poem by Ms. Averil Gumbs.

After the Homily by Parish Priest, Rev. Father Wilfred Daniel, the congregation was led into the Prayer of Intercession by National Executive member, Dr. Vance Gilbert.

The Service was in tribute to the late Thomas Manchester and J. Mathew Sebastian, and National Heroes, Their Right Excellencies, Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, Sir C. A. Paul Southwell and Sir Joseph N. France as well as Their Excellencies Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore and E. St. John Payne and Mr. Fitzroy C. Bryant.

Lady Hulda Lawrence was the organist.