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| Front row L-R) Premier Hon Vance Amory and Mrs Amory, Deputy Governor General Mr Eustace John, Her Ladyship Justice Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave (Back row L-R) Hon Michael Perkins, Hon Livingston Herbert partly hidden and President of the Nevis Island Assembly Ms Marjorie Morton at the Charlestown Methodist Church prior to the commencement of the church service. |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (June 02, 2006) -- The 2006 hurricane season commenced on June 1st, a day set aside by the Nevis Island Administration for prayer and supplication.
A number of Government officials headed by Premier Hon Vance Amory and members of the public, gathered at the Charlestown Methodist Church for a thanksgiving service with the theme "Heal our Land".
During the church service in his address to the nation, Mr Amory who is also the Chairman of the Nevis Disaster Management Committee said the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) through the Nevis Disaster Management Office and other agencies, would take all steps necessary to minimise or protect the efforts of any national occurrence but the public's cooperation and assistance was vital. "We need your help! And God helps those who help themselves," he said.
Mr Amory also took the opportunity to speak of man made disasters including fires, accidents, crime and violence and also of the young people of Nevis and made an appeal to those who encouraged the
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| A section of the congregation ahead of the national Day of Prayer church service. |
young people to engage in illegal criminal acts including drug use, drug selling, stealing, violence, vandalism, speeding on the roads, disrespecting institutions and persons at will.
He said these occurrences could be just as devastating as hurricanes, earthquakes or floods adding that in his experience with hurricanes and flash flooding on Nevis, there was not an instance of loss of life by any of these natural disasters.
However, with the emergence of groups, the encouragement of illegal drug activity and the viciousness which attends these occurrences, Mr Amory said they have "caused us all to weep in this country".
"There are those in our society, we know who they [perpetrators] are although they have not been caught yet, who profit from the pain of others operating as drug lords and gun runners using their ill gotten gain to create fear and destruction in our country using and abusing our young people to protect them.
"We as a people must pray to God today for protection against these people but we must ostracise them, treat them as undesirables even as we pray for them to mend their ways so that we can preserve the peace and stability of our country for economic growth and investment, to create a prosperous environment that our young people can live empowered useful lives and not be used to fuel their lust for money and power," he said.
According to Mr Amory, although it was the government's duty to stamp out crime and violence, it could only be done when persons honestly resolve to live in peace and honesty, to be weary and careful to guard against those who sought to sow discord in the society under the guise of freedom.
He said the government, the police the school or the church could not do it alone but the entire community to guide some of the young men and women to show them a better way and help them through to take advantage of the opportunities for education, for self improvement and empowerment.
Ms Leonie V. James also addressed the congregation while Mr Dillon Webbe said a prayer for youth of the nation and Ms Sylvia Francois said a prayer for healing. Reverend Moreland Williams gave the call to worship; Ms Akiana Skelton sang the national anthem. Pastor Stephen Liburd said the opening prayer, Ms Clara Smithen gave the scripture reading and Mr Herald Sutton was the organist.
