BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN keeping with a promise made on his weekly “Ask the PM” radio show, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas invited two of the Federation’s most promising scholars to join the federal delegation to the Fifth Summit of the Americas, which commences today (Apr. 17) in Trinidad.
The lucky students are 2008 State Scholar Agiel Browne from Nevis and her Runner-up Azard Gumbs from Old Road Village in St. Kitts. The two students left yesterday (Apr. 16) for Trinidad, after receiving the invitation less than 24 hours earlier.
The other members of the Prime Minister’s delegation are Premier of Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry; Chief Secretary Joseph Edmeade; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Astona Browne; and St. Kitts and Nevis Permanent Representative to the OAS, His Excellency Dr. Izben Williams.
According to Douglas, the idea to extend the invitation originated at a St. Kitts Labour Party function at Black Rocks on Easter Monday. The PM recounted that a young man had advised him that the inclusion of students as part of the national contingent would be a great opportunity for them.
“Last night at Black Rocks a young man was advising me that it would be good to take two students to the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Trinidad where we are expected to have President Obama visiting. It was a very good suggestion, something I will discuss with my colleagues later this week. I think it is a good idea,” Douglas had said at the time.
A government communiqué calls Gumbs and Browne “shining examples” of what young people can achieve if they were disciplined and dedicated to the pursuit of education. In the 2008 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), Browne achieved five Grade One passes while Gumbs attained three.
At the Summit, the two students will have the opportunity to network and dialogue with 34 leaders from the Caribbean, North America and Latin America on a number of issues including the global economic crisis, taxation regulation, energy and national security, and environmental cooperation.
Speaking exclusively to SKNVibes, Browne deemed the opportunity “a great experience to broaden [her] horizons. Gumbs concurred with her statement and said he was “honoured” to have been selected for the “historic occasion”.
“I am looking forward to interacting with all the delegates and to participating in the talks and discussions. I am positive I will enjoy myself fully,” he said.
Trinidad’s staging of the Summit marks the first time a CARICOM member state has hosted the prestigious event. The Fifth Summit of the Americas is being held under the theme “Securing our citizens’ future by promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability”.
