BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE mantle of Head of State for St. Kitts and Nevis will be transferred to another come the commencement of 2013, according to an announcement made by Prime Minister the Right Honourable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
The Prime Minister – during his 2012 Christmas Message today (Dec. 25) – announced that His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian would be retiring from the post of Governor-General effective January 1, 2013.
“And with 2012 drawing to a close, and 2013 upon us, this, I think is the perfect time for me to share with the nation the fact that effective January 1, 2013 His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Montraville Sebastian will be retiring from the post of Governor-General after 17 years of distinguished and sterling service to our nation.”
He also informed that Sir Cuthbert would be replaced by the current Managing Director of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, Sir Edmund Lawrence, who “has agreed to serve our nation in this capacity”.
“Assuming the post of Governor-General, effective January 2, 2013, I am pleased to announce, will be another distinguished and highly accomplished son of the soil, Sir Edmund Lawrence, currently General Manager Director of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank. The National Bank, under the leadership of Sir Edmund, has not only been an extraordinary vehicle for the upward mobility of the people of St. Kitts-Nevis, and it has not only been pivotal to the growth and expansion of countless businesses here in the Federation, it has also, due to the astute vision and management of Sir Edmund, become the leading indigenous bank in the Eastern Caribbean.”
For his years of dedication to the Federation and its people, Dr. Douglas expressed thanks to Sir Cuthbert.
“On behalf of the Government and people of our Federation, I extend this expression of heartfelt gratitude to Sir Cuthbert who, from the earliest days of this Administration, has delivered the very highest standards of service to the state. Sir Cuthbert, as we all know, had built an illustrious career as a medical doctor prior to assuming the role of Governor-General on January 1, 1996, and we thank him most sincerely for his many contributions to our nation throughout his long and impressive career.”
