Nevis Cabinet Secretary highlights contributions made by Guyanese nationals
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| Ashley Farrell, Nevis Cabinet Secretary |
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – NEVIS’ Cabinet Secretary Ashley Farrell on Saturday commended Guyanese nationals and other immigrants for the contributions they have made to the development of Nevis.
“As we move forward, I want to say to you that the Government welcomes you. Feel free to work here,” he said.
Farrell was the feature speaker at the Guyanese Association of Nevis Independence Award Ceremony held at the Red Cross Building on Saturday night. Vincent Adams, a long-serving teacher, was the honouree. Prior to giving his feature address, Farrell showered Honorary Counsel designate to St. Kitts and Nevis, Stanford Conway, for the great speech he gave on the chronology of Guyana’s pre and post-independence eras.
Farrell said Adams’ contribution to education in Nevis as a science teacher was unequalled.
He singled out a number of areas in which Guyana nationals have made great impact, including the construction industry and law and order, noting Guyanese national Andre Mitchell had attained the rank of Inspector. He also said there were Guyanese lawyers and state counsels as well as a Guyanese Magistrate and Registrar in the Federation.
Guyanese nationals, the Cabinet Secretary said, had made significant contributions in the field of education and stated that one of the
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| Science teacher Vincent Adams is being honoured for his contribution to education in Nevis |
education officers in the Nevis Island Administration is from Guyana. He also said Guyanese had contributed to the growth of the media and singled out Clive Bacchus, General Manager of WINN FM, and Stanford Conway, Editor-in-Chief of the popular SKNVibes.com.
Farrell said it was in the field of construction that Guyanese nationals had made their most outstanding contributions and pointed out that many such companies in Nevis have been employing Guyanese nationals and continue to do so.
The Cabinet Secretary called on Guyanese nationals to uphold the law and follow the legal procedures: “We care for you but do what is legal; do not let any group get you to do otherwise. Live harmoniously with Nevisians...Nevisians are friendly just as Guyanese are friendly.”
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| Stanford Conway - Guyana’s Honorary Counsel designate to St. Kitts and Nevis, and Editor-in-Chief of SKNVibes |
The Cabinet Secretary commended the Board of Directors of the Nevis Chapter of the Guyanese Association for organising the event and stated that he had always been fascinated and intrigued by the nation of Guyana with its rivers and islands and the mineral resources, such as diamond, bauxite, gold and timber.
He said as early as the ’60s and ’70s, there were many non-nationals, including Guyanese,
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| A section of the audience at the Guyanese Association of Nevis Independence Award Ceremony |
who came to work for Walwyn who owned Pinneys Estate.
Today, he said, Guyanese nationals and other immigrants have made Nevis a melting pot of nationalities. He listed the UK, Germany, Canada, France, Egypt, India, South Africa, Norway, China, Russia, Holland, Pakistan, Kenya, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Antigua, St. Vincent, Bermuda, St. Maartin, Barbados, Grenada, Antigua, Montserrat, Antigua, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominica and Barbados as some of the countries whose nationals are living in Nevis.
Farrell said there was a popular belief that a quarter of Nevis’ population is made up of Guyanese nationals. “I salute your land, the land of many people…the land of the free,” he said.
