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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 16, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, was among the hundreds of mourners who earlier today (Friday, March 16) attended the funeral service of the late Jimmyliah and Naomi Finch of Keys Village, who were both killed on Thursday, March 1.

 

Other members of the Federal Cabinet, including the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, who is the Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Eight, and Senator the Honourable Wendy Phipps, joined family members, friends and other well-wishers at the thanksgiving service which was held at the St. George’s Anglican Church on Cayon Street.

 

Also in attendance were members of the High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force.

 

With Jimmyliah being a member of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) at the time of her untimely death, the young mother was buried with military honours.

 

In a show of solidarity with the family at this difficult time, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, through the Ministries of National Security and Gender Affairs, covered the costs associated with the burial arrangements for both sisters, including planning, caskets, burial clothing and headstones among others.

 

Taking into account the psychological impact such an incident can have on individuals, the government also provided counselling support to the family members.

 

In expressing his heartfelt condolences during his press conference on Wednesday, March 14, Prime Minister Harris said he had met with their mother, Desiree Finch, and “prayed with and for her and her relatives.”

 

Dr. Harris further used the occasion to decry acts of violence against women and children in our society, adding, “I want to appeal to all to eschew violence and to show greater compassion to and tolerance for one another.”

 

“To be clear, we condemn violence in all forms, but we maintain that violence against women and children is most reprehensible and egregious.”

 

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