BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, October 18, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The future of one young man from Constituency Seven could have been very different had it not been for the timely intervention of Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and his highly successful Help-a-Child Programme.
And on Wednesday, October 17, during the ceremony for the 15th edition of the annual scholarship award initiative, that young man, Mr. Tahjaune Walters, showed his appreciation to Prime Minister Harris with the presentation of a plaque in recognition of Dr. Harris’ commitment to assisting the youths of his Constituency realize their full academic potential.
The Help-a-Child Programme, which this year was held at the Mount Carmel Baptist Church, awards primary school students who reside in Constituency Seven with bursaries of $500.00 each.
“This assistance may not seem like much to many persons but this helped to lift a burden from my mother’s shoulders,” said Mr. Walters, who recalled the struggles his mother faced in raising him and his younger sister after losing his father at the tender age of 3 years old.
He added, “Academically this helped me in obtaining school supplies—much of what was needed—so to the Honourable Timothy Harris I say thank you [for] it was a blessing well received and utilized.”
Referring to the scholarship programme as a “stepping stone,” Mr. Walters said “This was an opening towards the beginning of moulding my future. I stand before you today because someone planted a seed in me. I was worth it and I continued well in which I can proudly say with much dedication and hard work I would have attained high CXC level passes and advanced to CFBC [Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College] of which I completed.”
Students from the different schools also showed their appreciation to the prime minister through various forms including poetry and song.
One of the highlights of the evening came from scholarship recipient, Mia Romney of the Cotton-Thomas Comprehensive School, who performed a beautiful rendition of Sandi Patty’s song “Love in Any Language”—a performance that owned her a standing ovation from all in attendance.