Sir Edmund promises ‘always to give unsullied ethical service to the country and to each and every citizen and resident’

His Excellency the Governor General Sir Edmund Lawrence signs the Oath Book as Lady Hulda Lawrence (right) and High Court Judge His Lordship Errol Thomas look on.

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY 3RD 2013 (CUOPM) – The Federation’s third Governor General Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence, KCMG, OBE, CSM, JP. has pledged to be “faithful, true and loyal” to his oaths.

“I come into the office that I now assume by the wish of the Government, the consensus of the people, and the will of God. God sought me and providentially prepared and brought me to this day on which He is sending me as His servant at this specific period in the history of our young nation and the life of our proud people, whom I have been given the great honour and privilege to serve,” said Sir Edmund minutes after he was administered the oaths by Resident Judge, His Lordship Mr. Justice Errol Thomas.

Sir Edmund told a wide cross section of the community which included Sir Cuthbert Montraville Sebastian; Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry and their Cabinets, Justice Errol Thomas, members of the diplomatic corps, senior public servants, private sector individuals and persons from all walks of life that he is “fervently determined to serve wholeheartedly and without hesitation, prevarication or mental reservation, so help me God.”

Sir Edmund takes the Royal Salute

“I will serve with humility, humanity, meekness and selflessness. I will not seek my own good. I will seek the good of all of my fellow-countrymen and countrywomen. On that you can depend for God has promised to help me to do the special task which He has entrusted to me. I will rely on His promise and thus I cannot fail,” said Sir Edmund, who added:

“I am told that there are people who quietly take oaths and quickly forget them. I will remember my oaths. With God’s help I will not forget them. The oaths will be my guide and compass in office. They will help me to follow the path of truth and principle.”

He reminded the people including those watching the event on television or listening on the radio that the festival of the nativity that was just celebrated reminds of the angel and a multitude of the heavenly host who praised God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.’

Sir Edmund and immediate family members

“Down through the ages there are men in every generation who do not accept the heavenly message of peace and goodwill toward men, and whose thoughts and actions are contrary to both,” said Sir Edmund.

He pointed out that there is a high degree of accord between what the oaths require of the office holder and what God requires of man: “it is the unfaltering quality and practice of justice, mercy and humility in our relationship with God and in our dealing with one another.”

The new Governor General who will be the Representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, declared his “commitment to seek always to give unsullied ethical service to the country and to each and every citizen and resident.”

Sir Edmund and extended family members (Photos by Erasmus Williams)