PM Douglas says God’s grace helped St. Kitts and Nevis accomplish much over the past four years

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY 26TH 2014 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas told a church congregation Sunday that it was God’s Grace that helped the tiny Federation to withstand the international financial and economic crisis.

Left to right) - Dr. Terrence Drew, Dr. Vance Gilbert, Mr. Konris Maynard, Dr. Norgen Wilson, Hon. Marcella Liburd, Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin, Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Hon. Nigel Carty and Hon. Glenn Phillip.
Left to right) – Dr. Terrence Drew, Dr. Vance Gilbert, Mr. Konris Maynard, Dr. Norgen Wilson, Hon. Marcella Liburd, Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin, Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Hon. Nigel Carty and Hon. Glenn Phillip.

Addressing the congregation at the Rivers of Living of Water Christian Center at Lime Kiln, during a service to mark the fourth anniversary of the Fourth Term in Government of his St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Prime Minister Douglas noted that it was it was on January 25th 2010 when Kittitians and Nevisians went to the polls, and placed in the hands of his Party the honour of protecting and uplifting the Federation for the next five years.

“For this we give thanks. And with this, we have moved forward, faithfully and responsibly protecting the interests of all who live here – and ensuring that there has been stability, justice and expanded opportunities for the people of the country – despite the economic woes being experienced in countries near and far.

“The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party has committed itself to protect and uplift, Church, because that is what we see our responsibility as being. This is what we are philosophically committed to do and, indeed, this is why our Party was founded. And so, today, as we look back on the election that placed us in office in 2010, I wish to reflect on the role of grace in our lives as a people,” he told that large congregation that included supporters, Cabinet ministers and the leadership of the Party including the new candidates for the next general elections.

“We are most blessed to live in a democracy – because in a democracy, the people – and the people only -decide, via elections, who will govern them. This is a blessing indeed. Even more significantly, however, we are most blessed to live in a country that is familiar with the teachings found in sacred texts. Because those teachings help us to put all things in perspective to see all things in their true light and to understand that all things – and all persons – are, at all times, subject to a Higher Power,” Dr. Douglas told the congregation.

Suggesting that the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to have been taught about God’s grace – and the role of grace in all that happens all around, it is that grace that enabled the people us, as a people, to escape the brutality of slavery and the injustices of colonialism.

“It is that grace that gave us, in St. Kitts and Nevis, the right to have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He added: And it was that grace, Church, that enabled St. Kitts and Nevis, one of the tiniest nations in the world, to face, fight, and withstand, over the past four years, the most troubling economic depression the world has seen in almost a hundred years and to not merely withstand it, but to grow and to thrive to continue providing protections, opportunities, and advancement, for all who live here.”

Dr. Douglas, who this year, celebrates 25 years in March as parliamentarian and 19 years as Prime Minister pointed out that “over the past four years, my Government has worked very hard. And today, blessings and mercy are all around us. But we, as a Government, know that we did not do any of this alone. Indeed, Psalm 127 reminds us that whatever any of us may achieve – as a government, a family, or an individual – it is only possible through Divine mercy. What is it that, even as children, we were taught? “Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it. And except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman waketh but in vain also’. It was we who have been labouring for the past four years, yes, but it was a greater power that made all that we strove for, possible. Ephesians, as well, reminds us that ‘It is by grace that we have been saved through faith’ because whatever we may accomplish “is not our own doing, but is a gift from God.”

The St. Kitts and Nevis leader added: “The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party gives thanks for all that we have been able to accomplish over the past four years – and the grace that made it so. We see the dramatic impact in the lives of the young and the old, businesses large and small, in the lives of the strong and the weak. Indeed, we give thanks for the grace that caused the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party to be formed in the first place.”

Prime Minister Douglas noted also that it was the grace that permitted the Labour Party to bring so many sweeping and historic changes into the lives of Kittitians and Nevisians.

“We bow before the grace that gave our Party the energy to seek the support of the Nation in 2010, and to win the overwhelming support of the Nation as well. With the entire Nation, Church, we rejoice in the grace that has caused our Federation, over the past four years, to be publicly and repeatedly praised by respected institutions and persons all across the globe. Most importantly, the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party acknowledges the grace that has caused the people of our own country to stand with us, and to work with us, and keep the best interests of our Federation uppermost in our minds at all times,” he said.

“And so today, as we always have and we always will, we continue to humble ourselves, and to pray. We seek the face of God, as we were taught to, and He will hear us – as He always have – when more than two of us are gathered in His name. May we in St. Kitts and Nevis forever give thanks for our many blessings. And may God guide and protect us always,” Prime Minister Douglas concluded.

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