Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 21, 2019 (SKNIS): Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, as part of their visit to six countries and one overseas territory, arrived at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport in St. Kitts and Nevis, on March 21, where they were warmly welcomed by the people of the twin-island Federation.
The Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis, Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton GCMG, CVO, QC, JP., along with the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris took their positions on the red-carpet, lined with flowing palm trees, to greet the Their Royal Highnesses as they disembarked the Royal Air Force aircraft.
They were given the royal salute after which the national anthem of St. Kitts and Nevis was played by the St. Kitts-Nevis Defense Force Band. Armed forces were subsequently presented to and inspected by His Royal Highness.
Members of Cabinet as well as high ranking officials were present to welcome Their Royal Highnesses including Senior Minister, the Honourable Vance Amory, Attorney General, the Honourable Vincent Byron, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton, the Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, Minister of State, the Honourable Wendy Phipps, Senator Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Cabinet Secretary, Josephine Huggins, Speaker of the National Assembly, Michael Perkins, First Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, only living National Hero, Dr. the Right Excellent and Right Hon. Sir Kennedy A. Simmonds, KCMG, and Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, The Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas.
A bouquet of flowers was given to The Duchess of Cornwall by a student from the Beach Allen Primary School.
After their departure from the airport, Their Royal Highnesses paid a visit to the Berkeley Memorial, also known as the Circus, in the country’s capital, Basseterre.
The Berkeley Memorial was erected in 1883 and was for a long time the only public memorial commemorating an individual in St. Kitts. It was dedicated to the memory of Thomas Berkeley Hardtman Berkeley, a legislator and owner of the estates called Fountain, Greenland, Greenhill, Ottleys, Shadwell and Stone Fort.
The structure contains a clock and drinking fountain. It was designed and produced by George Smith and Co of Glasgow, Scotland. Two other similar structures were produced by the foundry, but only the one in St. Kitts survives.
During their visit to Basseterre, Their Royal Highnesses also made a stop at the National Museum.
The National Museum is located in what used to be the Treasury Building. It is also the home of the St. Christopher National Trust. Once situated on the Basseterre Bay front, the building is now at the meeting point of Basseterre and the reclaimed land of Port Zante. The Treasury actually moved to the corner of Church Street and Central Street in 1996 and the National Museum gradually moved in.
The trip comes as part of Their Royal Highnesses’ visit to six countries and one overseas territory, undertaking over fifty engagements across ten islands, including a visit to Cuba. It will be the first official visit by a member of the Royal Family to Cuba.
