Senior Minister Douglas Leads Constituents in Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in St. Paul’s
Area Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Number Six, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs et al, the Rt. Hon Dr Denzil Douglas, addresses the audience at the ATM Park in St. Paul’s before he switched the lights on the Christmas tree.
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (MMS-SKN) — As the country prepares to celebrate Christmas, Area Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Six, the Rt. Hon Denzil Douglas has made a special appeal to those who have been blessed with more than they can consume, to give some of what they have to those who do not have
Senior Minister, and Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs; International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Economic Development and Investment, the Rt. Hon Dr Denzil Douglas, made the remarks on Tuesday evening December 12, when he switched on Christmas tree lights at a ceremony held at the National Bank ATM Park on Main Street in St. Paul’s.
Noting that Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, the Senior Minister thanked individuals and organisations, including the White Gate Development Corporation, who were part of the ceremony where every year at that time they ensure that there is light and there is some demonstration of happiness, joy, and peace among men in the communities of St. Paul’s.
“Also it is a time that we remember that God did present to us His son Jesus Christ, and so it is a time of giving, and it is also a time of receiving,” observed Dr Douglas. “In other words it is a time of sharing and so those who have been blessed in having more than what you alone can consume, it is the time that you can give some of what you have to those who do not have.”
The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in St. Paul’s, which was chaired by Dr Elrick Francis, was held under the auspices of the Area Parliamentary Representative, Rt. Hon Dr Denzil Douglas, the C6 Capisterre Women for Development, and the Capisterre Health and Wellness Club.
Under a clear evening sky and with cool winds blowing, a large crowd had turned out at the ceremony, where invocation was delivered by Mr Anthony Morris. Presentations were made by Mrs Valda Morris, a poem; Ms Personality at the St. Paul’s Primary School, Miss Calixthe Hodge; Calypso by Master Kenver Francis, 2023 King at St. Paul’s Primary School; and a selection by Ms Arljanique Ward.
“Let us also remember that apart from the religious aspects of Christmas, it is also a time when in St. Kitts and Nevis celebrate Carnival,” pointed out Dr Douglas. He reminded the audience that the ancestors of the people in St. Kitts and Nevis came from West Africa, and “they brought new culture and their customs here in St. Kitts and Nevis and to the Caribbean region when they came.”
He opined that even though the people had been suppressed for centuries, their culture has come alive again especially when the people have sought to rediscover themselves and are practicing the culture of their ancestors and this is evidenced by the celebration of Carnival at this time of the year.
“That is why you will see on Boxing Day thousands of people on the streets in ceremonial parades, dressed in all kinds of costumes,” said Dr Douglas. “I understand that they will have a special group of persons in a troupe this year and they will be demonstrating climate change. A troupe will be called Climate Change, and so I am waiting to see what that group called Climate Change will be demonstrating.”
Present at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony included Minister of Sustainable Development; Environment and Climate Action; and Constituency Empowerment, Senator Hon Dr Joyelle Clarke.
“Of course they will be reminding us that because of changes in the climate, there are serious threats to mankind on this planet,” advised the Honourable Senior Minister. “They will be reminding us that if we are not very careful, we can be destroyed by hurricanes, and by floods.”
Chairperson, Dr Elrick Francis, extended special thanks to those who assisted them to ensure that the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was a success. They were Ambassador, His Excellency Michael Lin, and staff at the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan; the St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank; St. Kitts Electricity Company Limited (SKELEC); VALLIES; and the Parks and Beaches Unit.
Others included Mrs Henrietta Douglas-Christmas and other members of Capisterre Women for Development; Pastor Renicia Huggins and other members of the St. Paul’s Wesleyan Holiness Church; and Mr Simon Rawlins and the children of the St. Paul’s Primary School.
Individuals thanked included Mrs Beverly Knight, Terry Morris, James Ward, Anthony Morris, Officer Lennox Hodge, Leon Bradshaw, Elton Bloice, Alice Buchanan, Jacob Hazel, Tamarjay Carty.