PM Douglas to lead Government delegation at Sydney Morris’ Official Funeral

Late Hon. Sydney Earl Morris

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 11TH 2011 (CUOPM) – The late Hon. Sydney Earl Morris, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education will be given an “Official Funeral” on Thursday, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Douglas, who earlier expressed his Government’s and the Nation’s sympathy on the passing of the late parliamentarian, during his opening statement on his weekly radio call in programme on Tuesday said he will lead the Government’s Official Delegation to the funeral.

“The State will ensure that there is a Mourning Party from the Government. We will have support from the military – the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services and I as the Prime Minister will lead the Mourning Party from the Government,” said Prime Minister Douglas in response to a question from a caller.

Dr. Douglas said other cabinet ministers are also expected to attend the funeral service at the Moravian Church in Cayon on Thursday afternoon.

Born in Upper Cayon, St. Kitts, Mr. Morris died last week at the age of 76 after a prolonged illness.

Educated privately, before attending the Cayon All Age School, where he obtained two Standard Seven Certificates, Mr. Morris won a Caribbean Organization Fellowship to the Inter American University in San German, Puerto Rico in 1964 and pursued the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees. He secured a B.A. of Arts (Cum Laude) in Economics and Business Administration and a M.A. in Education Administration from 1964-1967.

He joined the teaching profession in St. Kitts in 1950 as a Pupil Teacher and was appointed an Assistant Teacher before attended Erdistan Teacher Training College in Barbados from 1964 to 1965.

Appointed Principal of the Cayon All Age School in September 1965, he was transferred to the St. Peter’s Primary School in 1966. He taught at then sandy Point High School from 1967 to 1968 and at the Cayon All Age School from 1968 to 1969, before becoming Principal of the St. Peters Primary School from 1969-1970.

Mr. Morris resigned from the teaching profession in 1970 and went to work as Industrial Relations Officer at the St. Kitts Sugar Association from 1970 to 1973 before travelling to Bermuda where he taught Math, Geography and Civics Teacher at Warwick Secondary School from August 1973 to February 6th 1980

Mr. Morris entered active politics from 1979 and contested the Constituency No. 8 seat in 1980 for the People’s Action Movement (PAM). Having won the seat he served four terms in the National Assembly until July 1995.

As a Cabinet Minister, he held several portfolios including Education and Community Affairs and Communication, Works and Public Utilities. He was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister and acted as Prime Minister on numerous occasions.