MANILA, PHILIPPINES, NOVEMBER 22nd, 2016 (PRESS SEC) — St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, is in Manila, Philippines, where he will accept the Gusi Peace Prize tomorrow, Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016.
The Awards Committee of Gusi Peace Prize International bestows Asia’s foremost accolade to politicians and other leaders from around the world who excel in their respective fields while ensuring the upliftment of human dignity.
Former President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Presidential Proclamation No. 1476, mandating the Gusi Peace Prize and declaring every fourth Wednesday of November as the Gusi Peace Prize International Friendship Day.
Prime Minister Harris is scheduled to accept the award at a ceremony on Wednesday, which starts at 6:00pm [6:00am on Wednesday in St. Kitts and Nevis]. The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Philippine International Convention Centre in the capital city of Manila. In attendance will be 5,000 distinguished guests comprising representatives of the diplomatic corps, local and foreign politicians, business leaders, celebrities, philanthropists, civic leaders, educators, scientists and other prominent figures from the Philippines and the rest of Asia, as well as the other continents in the world.
Prime Minister Harris, in his acceptance letter to the Awards Committee, wrote that, “I humbly accept this prestigious award and dedicate it to the wonderful people of St. Kitts and Nevis, who elected me and gave me the opportunity some 21 months ago to serve them as their Prime Minister.
“The Gusi Peace Prize embodies a powerful edict for peace, as it champions the hopes and dreams and human dignity of not only its humbled recipients, but also the huddled masses for whose hopes and dreams and human dignity we strive to advance in the name of justice and equality through academe, cinematic excellence, economics, journalism, philanthropy, politics, poverty alleviation, religion, scientific research and discovery, statesmanship and other important endeavours.
“On Monday, February 16th, 2015, I led the three-party Team Unity coalition to a resounding victory at the polls and, two days later, I was sworn in as St. Kitts and Nevis’ third Prime Minister.
“This was the culmination of a hard fought, historic election campaign that, for me, represented a pact with the people to rebuild our democratic infrastructure and promote prosperity in the country, as well as trust in government through transparency and accountability.
“My Team Unity Government’s Prosperity Agenda has at its core a people-centred approach that promotes people-oriented policies, such as the quick removal of a highly prohibitive and restrictive 17% value added tax (VAT) on food, medicines, educational supplies and funeral expenses that had been imposed by the previous administration.
“There is a lot more to be accomplished on behalf of the people, and I will press on in pursuit of further empowering them and living up to the ideals that the Gusi Peace Prize espouses.
“I thank you.”
Accompanying Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris to the Philippines are the Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, Minister of Public Infrastructure et al.; Ms. Valencia Grant, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Ms. Myrtilla Williams in the Office of the Prime Minister.
