Tweet

Religious freedom abounds in St. Kitts and Nevis, says Prime Minister Harris

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, February 25, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Governor General His Excellency Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton was among the hundreds of worshippers who attended the second church service on Team Unity Administration’s 4^th Anniversary Calendar of Activities at the Zion Moravian Church in Basseterre on Sunday February 24.

Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris led members of his Team Unity Cabinet and officials who included the Hon Eugene Hamilton, the Hon Ian Patches Liburd, the Hon Vincent Byron, the Hon Wendy Phipps, Cabinet Secretary Mrs Josephine Huggins, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett.

“We are here celebrating the fourth anniversary of the Team Unity Movement and the Team Unity Government, and we are grateful,” Prime Minister Harris told the congregation. “Although it has not been a perfect journey, certainly the journey continues. But for all that we have accomplished in the name of the people over the last four years in government we say ‘to God, we give the glory’”.

Prime Minister Harris observed that the first worship service in Team Unity’s 4^th Anniversary calendar of activities was held the previous Sunday at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Charlestown, and pointed out that some might ask why Team Unity has infused so many occasions of engagement publicly in terms of religion and in terms of outreach to God.

Team Unity, Dr Harris explained, takes sacred the opportunity to serve and its members are mindful that in the Constitution of the country the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is declared to be a ‘Nation Under God’.

“We take that seriously and as leaders we understand that we perhaps can influence others through our own public display that it is alright to praise God,” said the Honourable Prime Minister. He pointed out that there are some places in the world where it is not easy to pray “and so we give God thanks that religious freedom abounds in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

Delivering the sermon was Senior Pastor Rev Hilton Joseph. Among those attending included Governor General’s Deputy Mr Dennis Michael Morton, Federation’s Ambassador to the USA Her Excellency Dr Thelma Phillip-Browne, Ambassador Michael Powell, Ambassador Sydney Osborne, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Mr Osbert DeSuza, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Ecclesiastical Affairs Mr Ron Dublin-Collins.

Also present at the church service were two regional gospel artists, Prodigal Son (Mr Calvin Curtis Whilby) from Jamaica and Rev Nicole Ballosingh-Holder from Trinidad who were to headline at a gospel concert that was to be held in the evening at Greenlands Park as part of Team Unity’s 4^th Anniversary celebrations. Prime Minister Harris introduced the two to the church and gave an open invitation for all to attend the free gospel concert.

On behalf of the Team Unity Administration, Prime Minister Harris presented a token of appreciation to Rev Hilton Joseph, which he said was to be used by the church in advancing the work of God.

The highlight of the worship service was the anointing by Rev Hilton Joseph, assisted by Rev Onita Samuel-Warner, of members of the Team Unity Cabinet and officials that were present in church.