BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 19, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — In an environment where freedom of worship is not universal, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has established itself as a Nation under God, and Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris has pledged that his Government will support the work of the church.
“In St. Kitts and Nevis we need more persons fellowship in worship to our God, and so we are very pleased each time we go to a church, especially a new one, to know that there are so many homes of worship for our people,” said Prime Minister Harris on Sunday April 18 when he led a cross-section of the leadership and membership of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) for Sunday worship at the Unique Touch Christian Centre in Sandy Point.
At the worship service which was officiated by Pastor Kaywana Saunders and the sermon delivered by Senior Pastor Clive Saunders, Dr Harris observed that in St. Kitts and Nevis worshiping God is a blessing that people take for granted, because freedom of worship is not universal. He noted that there are persons who are being persecuted in many parts of the world because of their beliefs, while in St. Kitts and Nevis the country has established that it is a Nation under God.
“Thank you to all of you for your warm welcome this morning and I wish that this church will grow from strength to strength,” said Dr Harris. “I know that they are looking at a new location – you have lands and you are making preparation. My Government will support the work of the church, because we need more church worshipping prayerfully without ceasing for the leadership of the country, and for the country as a whole.”
The Honourable Prime Minister expressed his delight at being in the church where he noted its Vision Statement ‘Exalting the Saviour, Evangelising to the sinner, Equipping the Saints’, and said he hoped that that mission is being realised every day.
Calling on persons to be thankful for blessings they are receiving, Dr Harris noted that St. Kitts and Nevis, the smallest country in the hemisphere, has done the best job in managing the Covid-19 pandemic and said it should not be taken for granted and that people should celebrate those critical blessings that God has favoured the country with.
“My wish is that our country continues to grow from strength to strength though we could only do this if we are a Nation praising God,” stated Dr Harris. He added: “Giving God thanks, recognising that all the blessings we have had and all the opportunities they have come from a God of unlimitless and limitless possibilities – a God who has been there in the beginning and a God who will be there till the end of time.”
Prime Minister Harris, who is also the National Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) one of the three political parties in the ruling Team Unity Government along with the People’s Action Movement (PAM) and the Nevis-based Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) was accompanied to the worship service by a cross-section of the party’s leadership and members.
“It has been part of the on-going practice of the Peoples Labour Party that we encourage our membership and supporters to spend some time with God,” stated the Honourable Prime Minister. “We appreciate there are highs and lows in our lives – in their lives – and ultimately faith becomes important, but faith in God is the most important thing. So we want to say thank you for welcoming us. It is a church so far that has been full of joy and goodness and high praise for God, and God is deserving of this praise.”
Accompanying him included Peoples Labour Party Senator and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly the Hon Dr Bernicia Nisbett, Deputy National Secretary Ms Desire Huggins, Deputy National Treasurer Mrs Patrice Ofre, PLP National Women Representatives Mrs Sonia Henry, and Ms Petrona Thomas, and PLP National Youth Representative Mr Jeremiah Locker.
PLP Constituency Number Five Executive Branch was represented by Chairman Mr Glenville Mills, Treasurer Mr Lindsey Caesar, Deputy Chairperson Ms Marsha Lewis, Women Representative Ms Janice Lewis and a large group of the branch membership. Also in presence was a large delegation made up mainly of Constituency Number Seven Empowerment Group members.
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, April 5, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — One week after the Peoples Labour Party (PLP), the fastest growing party in the Caribbean, held the hugely successful 2021 National Convention on the grounds of the Ottley’s playing field, action was back on Ottley’s this time on the hardcourts as hundreds converged there at the end of Prime Minister’s Monthly Health Walk on Saturday April 3.
“Today we had a fantastic turnout for the health walk, notwithstanding all the competing activities,” said Prime Minister and National Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party Dr the Hon Timothy Harris. “To me it was a very good sight to witness the huge turnout that we had today. I thank all those who participated. We had some newcomers, and newcomers are always welcome.”
Heavy rains the previous evening did not stop health conscious walk enthusiasts who had assembled at the Bellevue Bus Stop from as early as 5:00 am. They were called to order by National Chairman of the Peoples Labour Party, Mr Warren Thompson, at 5:45 am and after a word of prayer by PLP National Women Representative, Mrs Sonia Henry, they set off for Ottley’s.
The Honourable Prime Minister commended the group from St. Paul’s and in particular Mr Shaheed Williams who organised to have a large turnout and brought a group of newcomers from Constituency Number Six. He hoped that they will be regular in their attendance and will also continue to bring new persons.
“It was good to have the youth leaders participating, Ms Katherina Davis, and Mr Jeremiah Locker, and I want to commend their involvement,” said Dr Harris of the two PLP National Youth Representatives. “I want to thank those members of the Executive who took time to be there and in particular to acknowledge Dr Bernicia Nisbett who participated.”
Other members of the National Executive of the Peoples Labour Party who were also commended by the National Political Leader included National Secretary Ms Myrtilla Williams, National Treasurer Mr Rawle Mars, Women Representatives Mrs Sonia Henry and Ms Petrona Thomas, National Legal Representative Ms Violet Williams, National Deputy Secretary Ms Desiree Huggins, and National Deputy Treasurer Mrs Patrice Ofre.
“I want to thank all the executive members and to thank the team,” said Dr Harris. “I think today they did something very special being Easter, in terms of adding more to the breakfast and a wider offering. So I want to thank all those who would have helped in any way – who would have made donations to the effort and in particular the young ladies who took the time to serve the hundreds of people who participated.”
All eight Peoples Labour Party Executive Branches were well represented by party membership while Constituency Number Five had its Chairman Mr Glenville Mills, and Deputy Chair Ms Marsha Lewis, and Constituency Number Seven had its Chairman Mr Lenworth Harris.
Regular participants of the Prime Minister Monthly Health Walk, which is now held under the umbrella of SKN Moves, included Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan His Excellency Tom Lee and embassy staff, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Mr Vincent William Hodge, Director of St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board Mr Antonio Maynard, and Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Ms Trevlyn Stapleton.
Also on the walk was the visiting Trinidad-based Consultant Clinical/Forensic Psychologist, Dr Sharon-ann Gopaul-McNicol who delivered the keynote at the convention which was held on the grounds of Ottley’s playing field on March 27.
“I commend the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan His Excellency Tom Lee for coming and being part of the whole effort to get St. Kitts and Nevis more active physically on the move,” said Dr Harris. He also commended some persons from the Ross University, for coming out and supporting the walk and by so doing adding to their own health and wellness.
Efforts by young men led by Eldon ‘Big T’ Harris in mobilising the transportation to and fro of the participants, also came in for high commendation from Prime Minister Harris.
“I would say our post-convention activities have been well attended,” he observed. “We had a successful church service the Sunday after the convention at The Temple Church in Dieppe Bay, and today we were able to follow up with a very successful health walk. Tomorrow we go to church at the House of Deliverance New Testament Church of God in Tabernacle and I basically just want to commend the efforts of all who have made the hosting of these events possible.”
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, March 27, 2021 (PLP PR Media Inc.) The youngest and fastest growing political party on the region, the Peoples Labour Party (PLP), held the private session of its National Convention 2021 on Friday March 26 where the entire executive, led by National Political Leader and Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, was elected unopposed.
Held under the theme ‘Together: Empowering and Uniting People; Rebuilding our Economy’, the private session which was held at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel Conference Room saw most of the office holders returned unopposed. Aspirants for positions left vacant by holders – one who left the country and the other who is going for further studies – were nominated and elected unopposed in the exercise that was overseen by Mr Franklin Maitland of the audit firm Maitland Maitland & Associates (MMA).
Retaining positions on the new Peoples Labour Party National Executive were National Political Leader, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris; Deputy National Political Leader, the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett; National Chairman, Mr Warren Thompson; and National Secretary, Ms Myrtilla Williams.
New on the executive is National Treasurer Mr Rawle Mars, nominated and elected unopposed to replace Mr Victor Earle who is now one of the three PLP National Trustees, joining Mr Heston Hamm and Mr Donald Caines who have been National Trustees all along.
Also returned are National Women Representatives, Mrs Sonia Henry and Ms Petrona Thomas; and National Party Organiser, Mr Alexis Nisbett. New Deputy National Chairperson is Ms Claudette Thompson, who is not new on the Executive having served as the Deputy National Treasurer on the previous Executive.
New on the PLP National Executive are Deputy National Secretary, Ms Desiree Huggins; Deputy National Treasurer, Mrs Patrice Ofre; National Youth Representatives, Mr Jeremiah Locker and Ms Katherina Davis.
A new position created on the new Executive is that of Communication Officer that went to Mr Craig Tuckett, who is not new to the Executive having served as the Deputy National Chairman on the last Executive. While Mr Anthony Ross QC has previously been associated with the Peoples Labour Party in a legal capacity, he along with Ms Violet Williams took the two National Legal Representative positions.
“This is now our complete team,” announced National Political Leader Dr the Hon Timothy Harris when he introduced the new Executive. “We are here to serve you, to serve the party, the serve the Unity family, and most importantly to serve St. Kitts and Nevis to the best of our ability.”
Dr Harris added: “For completeness I should advise that by the party rules, the Deputy National Speaker Senator Dr Bernicia Nisbett is also automatically, as a result of her parliamentary position, a member of the executive having been appointed as the PLP Senator in the parliament.”
The Peoples Labour Party which was established in 2013 is steadily growing. It won the first seat in the National Assembly in 2015, and the second seat following the 2020 General Elections.
The Honourable National Political Leader while thanking those who have worked hard to bring the party to where it is now, advised that there was room in the PLP for everybody to come, telling the members that “your approach must be welcoming, and every time if somebody new comes welcome them to the party so that we could be bigger and stronger.”
Dr Harris added: “As we convene this convention we have party groups in every constituency – that is a plus. We now have to build it stronger and better because we do not know what the future holds. We can’t take our eyes off the future, we can’t take our eyes off the consolidation of the future; we can’t take our eyes away from building the party stronger and better than it was.”
Due to Covid-19 regulations being observed, the business/private session of the National Convention which would normally hold over 300 persons had the attendance reduced by about 60%. Each constituency branch as a result had 12 delegates as opposed to 35 delegates for previous conventions.
“We have to behave in a manner that shows that we are serious and we are supportive of the government’s programme to defeat Covid-19,” said Dr Harris. “That is why I must express the regret, my own personal regret and that of the executive that the large amount of crowd we normally have at our convention we would not encourage in the face of Covid-19.”
Prime Minister Harris informed the delegates that Covid rules state that for indoor events a function must have no more than 100 persons.
“We have to walk the talk,” he said. “As a party in Government we have said that to fight Covid-19 we must avoid mass gatherings and we as a party in government are committed to that and that is why we have reduced significantly by more than 60 per cent the attendance at our convention which would normally have around 300.”
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, March 15, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is the most successful country in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic in the western hemisphere, and Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris is attributing the success to the all of society approach advocated by Government and has singled out the church for the role it has been playing and continues to play in the fight.
Prime Minister Harris commended the church generally, saying that the churches and the church leadership have been some of the most supportive and disciplined “in application of the Covid-19 protocols that have helped keep us safe so far. I want to say how much we deeply appreciate it and we thank God for guiding you, and guiding the church in that discipline.”
The Honourable Prime Minister made the remarks on Sunday March 14 at the Cayon Church of God in Central Cayon where he had joined the leadership and membership of the church for morning worship service in the company of members of Constituency Number Seven Group who had attended the worship service in celebration of birthday anniversaries of two of their members.
According to Prime Minister Harris, even before lockdown measures were instituted in the Federation, some of the churches had begun to practise social distancing protocols.
“We are in the final leg of this fight with the pandemic, the vaccination, and for us to get where we want to go, nearer to normalcy, forgetting our masks etc. we will have to get 70% of our population 33,000+ persons vaccinated,” Dr Harris pointed out. “It is a tall order that requires discipline, but there is an easy to go about it.”
Reflecting on his favourite song, ‘the goodness of God is running after us as a people’, Prime Minister Harris told the congregation that the goodness of God was the reason people in St. Kitts and Nevis are able to have good things about which they can share and they can indeed know that it is God’s favour in their lives.
He posed: “How else do we explain that the smallest country in the hemisphere has been so far the most successful in controlling a global pandemic? The grace of God and the goodness of God are keeping St. Kitts and Nevis safe.”
Host pastor, Reverend Dr Ben Browne delivered the sermon under the theme ‘Signs of the times’ with the topic being ‘The signs are signalling… Don’t miss the signal’. It was announced that the church would on the same evening be hosting a Covid-19 vaccination session from 6:00 pm facilitated by General Surgeon Dr Natalie Osborne under the theme ‘Getting vaccinated against Covid-19…Should I take it or should I not’.
“If in Dr Browne’s church, 70% of its membership is inoculated, we are getting closer there,” advised Prime Minister Harris. “If in our families we work hard to get 70% of them inoculated, we are getting closer there. In our work places we are getting 70% of them inoculated – we are getting there. On our Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP) we are getting 70% of them inoculated – we are getting closer there with the grace of God.”
The congregation was further advised by Prime Minister Harris that this is a global issue as right now for one to travel they would need to have a negative PCR test, but warned that in just a couple of weeks they will hear that for one travel they must show their vaccination certificate. Dr Harris also reflected on the fact that the Queen of England who is 94 years old has already taken the vaccine and wondered why some people are still waiting.
“The final thing is really to thank the organiser of our Peoples Labour Party (PLP), and by extension Unity Group, Mrs Sonia Henry for organising this get together on behalf of two of our members – at least one is a member of this church,” said Prime Minister Harris in relation to Ms Cheryl Franklin whose birthday was on Sunday, and her fiancé Mr Gavin Berridge whose birthday was the previous day on Saturday.
]]>BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, November 2, 2020 (MMS-SKN) — Prime Minister and Area Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Number Seven, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, Sunday November 1, led members of Constituency Number Seven Group for worship at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Molineux.
“I want to thank all those who turned out today for the service in what was an important get-together,” said Prime Minister Harris at the end of the worship service. “We have developed the tradition within the constituency, to visit as many of the churches as possible within the constituency and today we attended the Catholic Church in Molineux.”
Apart from members of Constituency Number Seven Group who were led by Mrs Sonia Henry, they were also joined by Deputy Speaker, Senator the Hon Dr Bernicia Nisbett, and Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP), Mr Craig Tuckett.
Others included representatives of Peoples Labour Party’s Constituency Number Five Executive Branch led by their Chairman, Mr Glenville Mills, and included Deputy Chairpersons Ms Marsha Lewis, and Women’s Representative Ms Janice Lewis. Members from other PLP Constituency Executive Branches were also present.
“The Holy Family is the only Catholic Church in the constituency,” observed Dr Harris. “It has its own unique style of worshipping and we were happy to have gone there – to have enjoyed the service and have fellowship with all the people. An interesting thing about that Catholic Church is that its membership is drawn, not just from within Constituency Seven but beyond.”
He mentioned Basseterre-based businessman Mr Scott Caines, and Director of Continuing and Professional Education Centre, University of the West Indies Open Campus, Dr Susan Owens, and several others, who make a deliberate effort to come to worship there on a regular basis. He added: “It is a very attractive church, it is well organised, it has an excellent choir, and all in all it was a very enjoyable service.”
The sermon which was themed ‘Celebrate Feast of All Saints’ was delivered by Father Lawrence Malama, who welcomed Prime Minister Harris and the visiting members and observed that the Prime Minister had steered the country well in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints, known and unknown. Celebrated universally by Catholics as well as many Protestant churches on the 1st of November, its intent is to celebrate all the saints including persons in society who are not canonised as saints, but whose deeds are deemed to be saintly.
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