BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – GOVERNOR-GENERAL His Excellency S. W. Tapley Seaton QC, CVO, JP came in for high praise from Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris who declared that such a title “could not have been conferred on a more deserving son of the soil”.
Last week, Seaton had taken the Oaths of Office and Allegiance and today (Sept. 10) an official and public ceremony was held at Government House, which was attended by members of Government, the Diplomatic Corps and business executives.
In delivering remarks at the event, Prime Minister Harris spoke of Seaton’s life of service to his country.
“When one examines the life of our newly-installed Governor-General, one realises that this latest accomplishment forms part of a long record of distinguished national service and recognition that has characterised his life. Some might even content that His Excellency’s appointment as Governor-General is the crowning glory in the life of an individual whom many have defined as patriotic, selfless, learned yet humble, and a foremost legal scholar in St. Kitts and Nevis and the Eastern Caribbean.”
An Attorney-at-Law, His Excellency served at various levels in public office for 20 years up until 1995 when, having demitted office, he became partner and co-owner in the law firm Seaton & Foreman, through which he also continued to serve the people of St. Kitts and Nevis via pro bono legislative, including drafting but not limited to the following: The Small Business Development Act (No. 24 of 2009), the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College Act and the National Trust Act.
Further chronicling some of Seaton’s accomplishments and avenues of service, Dr. Harris spoke of the part he played in the advancement of the Annual Academic Excellence Recognition Award Programme.
“Our newly-appointed Governor-General is at heart a statesman, a business development advocate, a heritage conservationist and a keen promoter of education as a poverty reduction strategy. History will eventually record that it was his vision and keen sense of corporate social responsibility as Chairman of Cable & Wireless that is today responsible the company’s consistent sponsorship of the Annual Academic Excellence Recognition Awards Programme over the past 26 years. This programme remains the only Federal academic programme that recognises outstanding CXC performance of deserving students and their teachers.”
Dr. Harris said his Government reposes confidence in Seaton’s “ability to lead, to counsel and to execute the decisions of our Head of State, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” noting that he “brings to his new posting the best of intentions, the highest ideals and the history of national service and statesmanship that his high office demands”.
He said Seaton is a fitting role model for both adults and youth alike.
“To be precise, as we ponder the state of our country at this time when some of our misguided young people continue to engage in anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, it would be wise for us to recognise and emulate persons such as our Governor-General, who are paragons of statesmanship and quiet yet effective leadership.
“I am fully convinced that so many of our young people need exemplary role models such as His Excellency – an individual whose life has consistently been about rendering yeoman service to the country he calls home. As I review His Excellency’s upbringing in Market Street, Basseterre and his adult life, it appears that every step along his journey has been a gradual progression towards this very moment in time when he assumes the highest office in the land as the official representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
His Excellency S. W. Tapley Seaton QC, CVO, JP is the Federation’s fourth Governor-General and he has replaced His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence.
Following the ceremony, the Guard of Honour was presented to and inspected by His Excellency Tapley Seaton.
