Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 11, 2015 (SKNIS): Congratulations continue to pour in for Prime Minister Harris and his new administration from citizens, businesses and organizations in St. Kitts and Nevis, and from prominent leaders across the region and internationally including the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and Brazil.
Local companies such as LIME, TDC, S. L. Horsfords, KRL Hospitality St. Kitts – the developers of the KOI Resort, and Christophe Harbour along with organizations such as the St. Kitts Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA), The Salvation Army, and institutions including the University of Medicine and Health Sciences and numerous others have all congratulated the Prime Minister and his cabinet on their recent victory at the polls.
Regional leaders such as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, congratulated Prime Minister Harris on his appointment and expressed her desires for working with him. “I look forward to working with PM Harris, as the members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seek to advance regional integration and co-operation,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Donald Ramotar, President of Guyana, echoed similar sentiments. “I extend to you my best wishes, as you embark on the mandate entrusted to you by the people of St. Kitts and Nevis,” President Ramotar said. “I take this opportunity to express my hope for the further strengthening of the relations between our two countries. I also look forward to our collaboration at the regional, hemispheric and international levels for the betterment of the people of the Caribbean Community.”
Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell stated that “the swearing in of Dr. Harris ushers in a new era of governance for St. Kitts and Nevis.” Dr. Mitchell expressed his country’s commitment to maintaining and advancing excellent relations with the government and people of the Federation.
Chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit was also among other leaders who extended congratulations and well wishes to Dr. Timothy Harris. “I want to first of all congratulate Dr. Timothy Harris and his coalition team for having won the election in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister Skerrit. “The world and the Caribbean are going through very challenging times and it is important for us to work together as OECS and of course as CARICOM, to ensure that we can help each other to overcome those challenges.”
Refering to the Brazil/Guyana Partialscope Agreement which was signed during Dr. Harris’ tenure as Foreign Affairs Minister, Brazilian President, Dilma Rouseff said, “I hope to be able to work with Your Excellency in strengthening the bilateral relations and the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean. He added, “the recent adhesion of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis to the Brazil-Guyana Partial-scope Agreement, the first economic agreement between Brazil and an insular Caribbean country, is an important milestone in our relations. This Agreement will make it possible to increase trade between St. Kitts and Nevis, Brazil and Guyana.” He then expressed wishes for prosperity for people of the Federation.
In his letter, Chairman of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Dr. William Warren Smith said, “your message of prosperity for all, resonated across the twin-island state”, he further stated that “we at the CDB, welcome your Government’s commitment and determination to work collaboratively in pursuit of a development agenda that is inclusive of every citizen.”
In addition, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) sent its best wishes and reminded Prime Minister Harris of his dynamic service to the organization during his tenure as chairman of its board of directors. Congratulations were also received from the Inter-American Institute for Corporation on Agriculture (IICA).
The Chief Minister of Anguilla, the Honourable Hubert Hughes; Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the Honourable Marcel Gumbs; Prime Minister of St. Lucia, the Honourable Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, Office of the Governor, Honourable Kenneth Mapp and the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Fruendel Stuart, were also among countless others who relayed congratulations to the Honourable Prime Minister.
The Government of Mexico, the Russian Federation, the European Union Ambassador to the Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the Republic of China Taiwan, the Government of Japan, the Government of Sweden and numerous others all sent congratulatory notes.
Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, was sworn in on Wednesday, February 18, as the third Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis.