BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NINE citizens of the Federation who have dedicated their lives to service were honoured at the National Investiture Ceremony yesterday (July 27) at Government House.
The event was held under the patronage of the Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, and was attended by several other distinguished luminaries, and friends and family members of the honourees.
Mary Morton was awarded a Member of the British Empire for her contribution to public service. She has participated in numerous professions and activities during her life, including stints at the Human Resource Department, the Government Printery, and as a teacher and President of the National Secretaries’ Association.
A Medal of Honour (MH) was bestowed upon Dorothy Cynthia Martin for her contribution to education, which has seen her teach at all three levels in the Federation (primary, secondary and tertiary) and become a guest lecturer at the University of the West Indies.
Another MH was conferred on Sydney Bridgewater, First Vice-President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union, for his activism in that field, as well as to Ermine Queeley Evelyn for her contribution to politics as the first Nevisian woman to contest local and federal elections.
Uriel Hensley, former Chief of the St. Kitts Fire and Rescue Services and member of the Leeward Islands Police Force, also received a MH. The same honour was granted to Roland Benjamin, a community activist involved in sports and arts, and a lead organiser of the annual Westbourne Ghaut festivities.
Current President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce, Carol Evelyn was awarded a MH for his exploits in community service and industry. As the Plant Manager for Harowe Servo Controls St. Kitts Ltd, Evelyn has spearheaded various donations to schools around the island.
In the field of music, Alexis Knight and Elston ‘Ellie Matt’ Nero were both honoured for their rich contributions to musical and cultural development in the Federation.
Knight is the Bandmaster for the Royal St. Christopher-Nevis Defence Force and plays several musical instruments, while Nero is the nation’s most successful calypsonian with his 11 Kaiso Monarch titles, eight Road March titles, and his production of over 20 CDs and albums.
After the ceremony, the honourees and Sir Cuthbert posed with their awards in the State Room. Nero was the absentee, as he is currently abroad undergoing dialysis treatment; a service not available by local health authorities.
Parliamentary Representative for Constituency Two Hon. Dwyer Astaphan accepted the MH on Nero’s behalf. He lauded the calypsonian for his musical achievements and beseeched the government to give him more recognition.
“Ellie Matt is one of the most important figures in our recent history. He stands alone in terms of his contribution to music and culture,” Astaphan said. “We have not done enough to honour him. It is my hope the government would establish a stipend for him so he can return to the Federation to put his talents and experience to use here. And I hope we would one day acquire the necessary dialysis equipment so Ellie Matt and others with the same illness can be treated locally and not have to go abroad.”
