BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FAMILIARLY known as Prince Harry, Prince Henry of Wales has set sails for St. Lucia after a one-day visit to St. Kitts and Nevis while on his seven-nation Caribbean Tour on behalf of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth ll.
The main reason for the Prince’s visit to the Federation, as it is with the other countries, was to unveil a plaque to mark the designation of an area of St. Kitts’ as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.
This event took place yesterday morning (Nov. 23) at the historic Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, where the Prince addressed a number of dignitaries, members of the public and school children.
Following a short cultural presentation below an overcast sky, His Royal Highness unveiled the plaque and in brief remarks commended the nation for the part it is playing to promote environmental conservation.
“I am really pleased to have the opportunity to thank the people of St. Kitts and Nevis for committing the Central Forest Reserve to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. My grandmother launched the Canopy Project last year and all member of the Commonwealth have agreed to donate forested lands to this international environmental work. Your contribution is incredibly generous. Not only will it encourage more visitors to this beautiful place, but it will give people around the Commonwealth the opportunity to learn about your forests and the way how you protect them.”
In his remarks, the Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Tapley Seaton, highlighted the importance of the project and stated that it was launched during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta last year.
“The Government of St. Christopher and Nevis has identified the central Forest Reserve National Park as its QCC project. The National Park was on October 23, 2006 designated as our first National Park for the specific purpose of biodiversity, conservation and sustainable development. The Park contains the last remaining area of tropical forest in the island of St. Kitts. The boundary of the Central Reserve National Park is from the 1,000-foot contour level and its ecosystem is a functioning watershed, providing the greatest reserve of readily renewable water.
“The preservation and management of this vital area is a fitting one to be developed in honour of Her Majesty and would be a significant Commonwealth environment initiative. St. Christopher and Nevis is deeply honoured to be a part of this QCC initiative and continues to value its membership of her esteemed Commonwealth family.”
Earlier that morning, Prince Harry had arrived on the shores of St. Kitts in the absence of the Governor-General who, according to protocol, should have been present to greet him.
However, the Prince had arrived earlier than the scheduled time (9:00 a.m.) and was seen conversing with members of his security detail and those of the British press as he waited on the Governor-General’s arrival.
Prince Harry had left Antigua and Barbuda on the previous night aboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Knight. On arrival in St. Kitts, he had boarded a small craft which took him and his entourage to the Marina on the western side of Port Zante.
Some 10 minutes after his arrival at the Marina, he was greeted by the Governor-General who escorted him in his vehicle outside the Arrival Hall at Port Zante.
Scores of primary school pupils and a large number of adult spectators were present to greet the Prince, who took the salute and inspected a Guard of Honour made up from members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force under the command of Captain Kayode Sutton.
The 32-year-old Prince was introduced to the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Shawn Richards, who was acting in the capacity of Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis. The substantive Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, was at the time in Manila, Philippines, where he was award the Gusi Peace Prize International.
He was also introduced to other Members of Parliament including Nevis’ Premier Hon. Vance Amory and Opposition Leader the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas. And among the dignitaries to whom he was also introduced were the Federation’s first Prime Minister, Sir Kennedy Simmonds and his wife.
Prince Harry took time off to interact with some of the spectators and even shook hands and took photos with them while accepting a drawing from a smiling little girl.
On his way to the Brimstone Hill Fortress, the Prince made an unscheduled stop at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Middle Island, where he and the Governor-General visited the tomb of Sir Thomas Warner.
Warner was of the planter class and he had established St. Kitts as Britain’s first Caribbean colony in 1624. He was appointed sole Governor of St. Christopher for life on September 29, 1627 and on November 4, 1643 was constitute Governor and Lieutenant-General of the Caribee Islands.
Sir Thomas Warner died on March 10, 1649 in St. Kitts and was buried in a tomb in Middle Island.
The convoy made another unscheduled stop. This time was at the Half Way Tree Pre-school where he interacted with the toddlers and their teachers.
On completion of his mission at the Brimstone Hill Fortress, Prince Harry travelled to Nevis and was met by a number of dignitaries and members of the public at the Charlestown pier. This was followed by a reception at the Four Seasons Resort, after which he visited a turtle conversation project.
Early that evening, the Prince returned to St. Kitts to attend an Investiture and Cocktail hosted by Sir Tapley Seaton at Government House.
The Investiture Ceremony was held in the State Room at Government House, where the former Governor-General of St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence, formally received his knighthood. Sir Edmund was invested with the insignia of Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George by His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales later set sail for St. Lucia in continuation of his Caribbean Tour, after which he is slated to visit St, Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados and Guyana.
