BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 21, 2019 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) –Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris has said that the “very special visit” to St. Kitts and Nevis by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall today (Thursday, March 21) has brought greater attention to the twin island Federation as a functioning and vibrant small island state.
“The visit, I think, created much excitement nationally and provided another occasion for our people to come together around something good and wonderful, and what is good and wonderful is the long tradition of association between St. Kitts and Nevis and the United Kingdom, which has brought many good moments,” said Prime Minister Harris during a reception at Government House held in honour of the Royal visit.
The reception was the final event attended by Their Royal Highnesses during their tour of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The day’s events began with the arrival at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, where the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall were greeted with a Guard of Honour and officially welcomed to the country by Her Majesty the Queen’s representative, His Excellency the Governor General, Sir S.W Tapley Seaton and Prime Minister Harris.
The Royal couple then visited the Berkeley Memorial in the center of the Circus while greeting the scores of visibly excited and cheering crowds of people from all walks of life and nationalities along the way. From there, the Royal Highnesses journeyed to the National Museum located in the Old Treasury Building before heading over to the sister island of Nevis where they were warmly greeted by Premier, the Honourable Mark Brantley and members of the Nevis Island Administration.
While on Nevis, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall made a stop at the historic Hermitage Plantation House.
Undaunted by the persistent and pouring rain, HRH The Prince of Wales continued his tour of St. Kitts with a visit to the Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where he participated in a plaque revealing ceremony.
“Coming here today has reminded me of the outstanding beauty of these islands and I’ve been particularly struck by the evident strength of your society,” said His Royal Highness, who last visited the country in 1973.
Reflecting on the success of Thursday’s visit to St. Kitts and Nevis by the Royal couple, Prime Minister Harris said, “It brings with it positive press, and so far the press reports that I’ve seen in the British media have been highly complementary,” while noting that it is good to see that The Royal Highnesses had tremendous delight during their stay and how pleased the people of St. Kitts and Nevis were to welcome them.
“We showed that it is within our capacity and capability to be excellent host and excellent host to royalty and that I think is very good,” the prime minister added, while expressing words of commendation to the local organizers.
Before leaving for the airport, the Governor General and Prime Minister Harris presented their Royal Highnesses with several gifts of appreciation on behalf of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. This generosity was reciprocated by The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall who made presentations of their own to His Excellency the Governor General and to the Honourable Prime Minister.