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Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 17, 2016 (SKNIS): When representatives of the family of Louise Isaac of Cayon, along with staff members of the Ministry of Social Development, gathered to present flowers and a gift basket to the 102 year old, it was she who gave a blessing when she returned the favour with song.

 

Mother Isaac, who celebrated 102 years of life on Monday (February 15,) treated those gathered with several verses from the hymn “The King’s Business.”

 

“I am a stranger here within a foreign land,” she sang.  “My home is far away upon a golden strand.  Ambassador-to-be of realms beyond the sea.  I’m here on business for my King.”

 

Honourable Eugene Hamilton who attended the brief presentation as the Minister of Social Development and as Parliamentary Representative for the area, spoke fondly of Mother Isaac.  He recalled the service that had been held to commemorate her 100^thbirthday, two years before.

 

“And I remember that church service, it was a beautiful service,” Minister Hamilton said, recalling that his sister had travelled from Trinidad specially to attend.  “And one of the things that we’re reminded of is how strong you are.  What a fearless woman of God you are.  You’re an encourager, you are one who helps to promote attitudes among young people that are positive.  You have been and you still continue to be.  We love you.”

 

The Parliamentary Representative for the area further recalled that when he was about five or six years of age, he would attend choir practice with his grandmother Ruth Greene.  He said that his grandmother and Mother Isaac would lead the choir with their strong soprano and alto voices.  Owing to that experience, he said he learnt to sing and blow the bellows of the pipe organ of the church.  He described Mother Isaac as one of the most influential persons in his life.

 

“After singing those lovely songs and practicing, you would spend hours talking and you would talk and the night would be cold,” Minister Hamilton said. “But one of the things we learnt as children, is to be disciplined and I wish that the children today, had that kind of discipline that we learnt.  That has stayed with me all these years.  And so I want to congratulate you on being 102 years old.  I want to tell you that you have helped me through life, since I was about five.  But you have also helped me through life, through your offspring.  Your son Percy Isaac – Teacher Percy as we call him – was one of the most influential persons on my life.”

 

Minister Hamilton recalled that Percy Isaac had prepared him to successfully sit his GCE O’Level mathematics examination.