Organized by the Embassy of Saint Christopher and Nevis in the Republic of China (Taiwan), nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis welcomed friends, guests and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs including H.E. Vice Minister José María Liu, Ambassadors and Representatives of Foreign and Trade offices in Taipei, and other officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan to the packed church.
Heartwarming hymns echoed through the walls at the start of the service and was followed by a sermon by The Rev. Dr. Herbert J. Barker, who said that Saint Kitts and Nevis was not merely celebrating its independence but also the interdependence of each of its citizens with each other to harness Love, Service, Patriotism, Pride.
The Honorable Vance W. Amory, Senior Minister and Minister of Nevis Affairs, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs delivered the 35th Independence Anniversary message and spoke of how God’s providence had kept the Federation and the continuous progress of the bilateral relations between Saint Kitts and Nevis and Taiwan. Representing the government of Taiwan, H.E. José María Liu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan mentioned in his remarks how Taiwan is very honored to have been the first to establish bilateral relations with Saint Kitts and Nevis and of the joy of being able to assist when called upon.
With their steel pan orchestra, the Pantastics, one of Saint Kitts and Nevis’ musical gems, performed the Hallelujah chorus (Handel’s Messiah) and the popular Caribbean rhythmic tune “I know who I am”.
The service ended with attendees lauding both the message and the music shared as Saint Kitts and Nevis celebrated their 35th Anniversary of Independence.