Ambassador visits Nevis; bears gift for Alexander Hamilton Museum

Barbados based United States of America Ambassador Her Excellency Mrs. Mary Orisman presents a gift to Premier of Nevis Hon Joseph Parry

CHARLESTOWN NEVIS-- United States of America (USA) Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean Her Excellency Mrs. Mary Orisman paid a courtesy call on Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry at his Bath Plain Office on September 20, 2007, where she expressed her thanks for the opportunity to present a US$40,000 gift to the people of Nevis from her government,. The monetary gift was given to the Alexander Hamilton Museum in Charlestown, through the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS).
 
Mr. Parry thanked the Ambassador for the gift and expressed his appreciation for the contribution to the Museum. He said the gift was timely in line with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Hamilton, an American Statesman who was born and raised in Nevis.
 
“I am also very appreciative of the contribution that she [Ambassador Orisman] will make to the Alexander Hamilton Museum. 

Ambassador Mrs. Mary Orisman pens signature for the US$40,000 gift at the Alexander Hamilton Museum in Charlestown, while Executive Director of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society on Nevis Mr. John Guilbert looks on

Indeed it is the right time to give recognition to this great American statesman and son of Nevis. I do hope that in honouring him that the people of America would understand the ties between St. Kits and Nevis and the United States of America.
 
“The ties are many Ambassador because the first colonists who went to Virginia actually came to Nevis and spent a few days recovering from their Atlantic journey. In the old days Thomas Jefferson’s father was buried in St. Kitts so he and Sir Thomas Warner use to have some good times in the Caribbean. So there are many, many historical ties between these islands,” he said.
 
The gift will be used for the purchase of the replica of an existing Alexander Hamilton Exhibition currently travelling in the United States which would be permanently housed at the Museum.
 

Her Excellency Ambassador Mary Orisman meets with youths of Jessups Village involved with the Bikes not Bombs programme

Meantime, during the presentation to Executive Director of the NHCS Mr. John Guilbert, at the Museum, Ambassador Orisman said she was impressed with the Museum during her first and earlier visit to Nevis.
 
“I am delighted to represent the United States government presentation of this gift which is a fabrication of an existing Alexander Hamilton exhibition that is travelling in the United States.
 
This would be an exact replica of that exhibition which would be on permanent display here in Nevis and we are doing this in celebration of one of our founding fathers being born here on the island of Nevis, in this wonderful house 250 years ago. So I am delighted to be here today…to celebrate this gift to Nevis,” she said.

Peace Corps Volunteers on Nevis present a gift of locally made Nevis Wine to US Ambassador Her Excellency Mrs. Mary Orisman

 
In response, Mr Guilbert thanked the Ambassador for the surprise gift which he said would change the look of the Museum. 
 
“It will be an exhibit that will just change the whole look of our museum and we appreciate the thought, we appreciate the support we are getting from the ambassador and from the United States. This was a real surprise to us and we really appreciate it,” he said.
 
While on Nevis, the Ambassador also met with the Peace Corps Volunteers and visited youths involved in the Bikes not Bombs programme in Jessups Village. 

The programme which has gone international originated from the USA and was designed to involve young people and adults in mutually respectful leadership development and environmental stewardship, while recycling bicycles. 
 
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