Disaster Coordinator urges mourners to demand safety of their lives...
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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‘Perry’ Adolphus Vincent Liburd
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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – DIRECTOR of the Nevis Disaster Management Office, Lester Blackett, told mourners yesterday [February 14] to demand safety of their lives.
He was at the time speaking at Adolphus ‘Perry’ Vincent Liburd’s funeral service held at the Church of Christ on Government Road.
Liburd, who resided at Fountain, died in a fatal accident that involved a bus he was driving and a truck driven by Mikhail Brookes of Prospect, who is currently warded at the Alexandra Hospital, Nevis.
Seemingly frustrated by the loss of lives pre-maturely, Blackett said all efforts must be made to ensure that Nevisians do not assemble again to bury persons who died through avoidable circumstances such as violence and accidents.
Blackett, who was at the scene of the accident on Monday, said his department would do everything possible to prevent further loss of life. He said the trend of Nevis losing one life per month should stop. “We cannot afford to loose our loved ones,” he told mourners. Blackett asked mourners to hold each other’s hands and observer a minute’s silence to demonstrate a pledge of commitment to ensure more lives are not lost under similar circumstances.
Pastor Cuthbert Cumberbatch of Mount Lily Church of Christ, who delivered a sermon at the service, told mourners to assess what message God was sending to Nevisians through those deaths. “God wants us to drive carefully,” the Pastor said.
He noted that Liburd was young and resourceful and was contributing to the well being of Nevis. Liburd was employed at the Nisbett Plantation Inn and part of his duties involved landscaping. He was also a local bus driver for the past three years and a steward at Four Seasons over the past one and a half years.
The Pastor said the deaths that recently took place on Nevis should be viewed as opportunities by those who are alive. “Let us make use of every opportunity...God has given us limited time. We cannot recycle wasted time.” ~~Adz:Right~~
He posited that people had become too busy to notice others’ needs and asked, “Are we too rushed to help those in need? Do we have time for Jesus?”
Pastor Cumberbatch said Nevis was doing well economically but the economic well being was God driven, and urged Nevisians to make wise choices by asking God for wisdom. “When we make wise choices, God is pleased.”
He urged the mourners to put their lives right with God before it is too late. “Everybody wants their loved one to go to heaven.” He also called on the youth to make the best of opportunities available to them.
He decried the increasing population of young prisoners and advised that youth must be careful when driving their sports’ cars. “Nevis is too small to loose one man or one woman.” The Pastor told leaders in Nevis to mentor youth positively. “What kind of leadership are we setting for the youth?” he asked mourners.
Pastor Cumberbatch called on Nevisians to co-exist peacefully and avoid envy and grudges. He also challenged all present by asking, “Why can’t we come together as we did today and as we did at the vigil last night, whether we know people or not?”
