The one-on-one styled meetings presented persons, particularly those who reside in Constituency Two, the opportunity to air their concerns and views on matters of importance to them. The discussions ranged from very private issues to other general matters to do with housing, requests for lands, jobs and scholarships.
Among those who took the opportunity to meet with the honourable prime minister and Ambassador Powell were representatives of the St. Kitts-Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities (SKNAPD). The SKNAPD operates out of the McKnight Community Center, situated in Central Basseterre.
When asked about the opportunity to address their concerns directly to the Prime Minister and Ambassador Powell, the association’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Sylvine Henry, commented that “It was very important because we have a crucial issue that would affect our future as an organization and we have been trying to get it resolved, and so we are happy today to have had easy access to the prime minister and Mr. Powell as the representative and we have high expectations for success.”
The matter to which the St. Kitts-Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities raised during their time with Prime Minister Harris and Mr. Powell pertained to a permanent home for the SKNAPD. President of the St. Kitts Society for the Blind, Mr. Rockliffe Bowen, is confident that Wednesday’s meeting was a positive step towards attaining their goal.
He stated, “I’m very confident that when the prime minister meets with his colleagues some sort of resolution would be taken in favour of us as persons with disabilities. I’m very optimistic about that.”
Wednesday’s one-on-one consultations were held in two separate sessions – a morning session and an afternoon session – to allow as many persons as possible the opportunity to see both Prime Minister Harris and Ambassador Powell.
