BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, August 14, 2017 (PLP PR Media Inc.) -- Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr the Hon Timothy Harris on Sunday August 13 joined members of the Regular Unit of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force at the Zion Moravian Church in Basseterre for a worship service to celebrate the unit’s 20th anniversary.
Commander of the St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force, Lt Col Patrick Wallace noted: “In July we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Regular Unit of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, and because of duties, this was the first opportunity to hold the church service.”
He said that they were very pleased to have the Prime Minister of the Federation Dr the Hon Timothy Harris at the anniversary service. Lt Col Wallace added: “He is the Minister of National Security, and Defence Force falls under his Ministry. We are honoured that he took the time out to come and worship with us, and we really appreciate his presence here this morning.”
Along with the Defence Force Commander were Captain Kayode Sutton who is the Officer Commanding Alpha Company of the St. Kitts Nevis Regiment and also the Defence Force Public Relations Officer, Major Anthony Comrie who is the Officer Commanding the St. Kitts Nevis Coast Guard, and other senior officers.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Commander explained to the congregation why the church had come to be so important to them following a bad sea encounter in 1995. He and other sailors on Coast Guard Cutter Stalwart he was commanding experienced rough weather caused by Hurricane Marilyn as they travelled to Antigua.
“We were not lucky to leave here in time and so we were caught by the bad weather,” said Lt Col Wallace. “It was a very terrible night, and I never expected to survive and when I look around there was one sailor who was standing with me who is here (in church today), Captain Lynn Wilkins. The waves were much higher than the roof of this church.”
They however made it. He told the congregation that he later learnt that every time he went to sea on that ship, there was a group of women in the church (Zion Moravian) who were praying for him. They were his mother, his godmother, and other women. He believes that it was their prayers that brought him and his men home safely.
According to Captain Kayode Sutton, the Coast Guard was at that time (in 1995) under the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force as the Coast Guard Unit came under the Defence Force when the Force was reactivated in 1997. He also observed that Lt Col Wallace was at that time a police officer, holding the rank of Inspector of Police.
“Do not for one moment believe that when you pray for the security forces it is prayer not heard,” commented the Defence Force Commander. “And today, congregation, we need your prayers more than ever. The men and women who are here today we cannot do it alone, we need your support.”
Lt Col Patrick Wallace added: “We acknowledge that we are not always perfect and we ask for your forgiveness. However, we pledge to you that we will do our outmost best to bring peace and tranquillity to our Federation and we ask you to stand with us and support us with your prayers.”
The service was conducted by the Reverend Hilton J. Joseph Superintendent of the Moravian Church St. Kitts Conference, and Pastor of the Zion Moravian Church who told this media: “It was an awesome opportunity to have them sharing the service today, and when Colonel spoke, along the line of the reason for the 20th anniversary, it just resonated in my spirit again how important it is for the church to lift up the security forces of the nation.”
Rev Joseph observed that it was their duty as a people of the church to pray for the members of the security forces and to ask for God’s protective arm over them.
“So we at Zion were blessed and really give honour to God that they could come back into this context to celebrate that 20th year because we do pray for the security forces,” said Rev Joseph. “We do pray for the Prime Minister, we do pray for the land, especially when we have our Seven Day Prayer period, the first seven days of every month, we have been praying for the leadership of the country.”
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