Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
May 21, 2010 (CUOPM)
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas began an official visit to Bermuda Thursday.
Prime Minister Douglas was greeted by a welcome party headed by Bermudian Premier, Dr. the Hon. Ewart Brown at the L.F. Wade International Airport. The welcome party included Secretary to the Cabinet, Major Marc Telemaque and protocol Officer, Ms. Debbie Pitt.
Prime Minister Douglas, accompanied by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Astona Browne and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Erasmus Williams will be in Bermuda until Tuesday. The visit comes after an invitation from the Premier earlier this year.
Dr. Brown said last night: “It is an honour to receive Prime Minister Douglas and welcome him to Bermuda. We appreciate him accepting our invitation and look forward to renewing and strengthening the cultural and familial ties with the Government and people of St. Kitts.”
Many Bermudians are descended from immigrants from St. Kitts and Nevis the Island retains strong cultural and business ties with the Caribbean nation.
Dr. Douglas paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the House, the Hon. Stanley Lowe, Deputy Speaker, Dame Jennifer Smith and Clerk to the Legislature, Ms. Shernette Wolffe before addressing MPs in the morning.
He also received a Cultural Memorandum of Understanding for his consideration from Neletha Butterfield, Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation and called on the Governor Sir Richard Gozney.
Dr. Douglas and his party
attended an informal luncheon with Bermuda residents with strong St. Kitts and Nevis connections.
Also on Dr. Douglas’ agenda is a dinner Friday night hosted by the Junior Minister of Health, Sen. the Hon. Thaao Dill, whose grandparents are from St. Kitts.
On Saturday he will take a ferry ride to Dockyard built by Kittitians and Nevisians in the early 19th Century to tour Commissioner’s House, a morning worship service at Christ Church, Devonshire with Deputy Premier, the Hon. Paula Cox, JP, MP, and a formal dinner, hosted by the Premier.
Rounding out the Prime Minister’s activity schedule is a Town Hall Meeting on Sunday evening at the Bermuda Industrial Union’s Dr. E.F. Gordon Memorial Hall and on Monday, he’ll join other dignitaries to enjoy the Bermuda Day celebrations, a Government statement said.