Sanitation workers in both St. Kitts and Nevis were treated to a well-deserved breakfast and luncheon and worshipped together for the first time on the lawns of Government House. They also received well wishes from dignitaries who were in attendance, most significantly the Governor General Sir Tapley Season, GCMC, CVO, QC, JP. In a message to sanitation workers, Sir Tapley said Sanitation workers play an integral role and make a significant contribution to the Federation. “Therefore, having an event such as this one is meaningful because it provides a means by which appreciation can be expressed. The work done by this particular sector of workers can easily be overlooked as we have grown accustomed to a clean environment,” the Governor General said. He said the theme for this years’ service reminds us of the importance of these workers. “This is significant to our Federation as a developing nation which is heavily dependent on its human resource. You perform a very essential role and for this we are truly thankful,” Sir Tapley added.

General Manager of the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) Mr. Alphonso Bridgewater commended the Apostolic Faith Mission for organizing the Sanitation Appreciation Church service and luncheon every year for 15 years. “We admire the commitment of the AFM congregation to the biblical injunction: “to the extent that you have done it to the least… you have done it unto me.” It is the inspiration provided through acts like those of the Apostolic Faith Mission that encourages the SWMC to be CUTE—Committed to service, Unique in its application of that delivery of service and products, Technology conscious and Efficient,” Mr. Bridgewater said. “It is the inspiration fostered by supportive and encouraging interventions like the example presented by the Apostolic Faith Mission which challenges the SWMC to rise above mere “good” sanitation to deliver ‘great’ sanitation, confident that in so doing we are indeed “saving lives,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris provided remarks for the commemorative booklet for the church service, as he was not in attendance at the service. He commended Pastor Lincoln Hazel and the Apostolic Faith Church for organizing the appreciation service every year for the last 15 years. He particularly noted that in light of the Federation surviving two catastrophic Category 5 hurricanes, the work of sanitary workers is important. “Here in St. Kitts and Nevis, in the aftermath of Irma and Maria, the sanitation workers became some of the heroes of the hurricanes. In fact, Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the extensive cleanup efforts that followed, threw into sharp relief the essential role that our sanitation workers perform in maintaining environmental and public health, not just each day, but during national natural disasters,” he said.

Minister of Health Eugene Hamilton, who was unable to attend the service as he was away on government business, pointed in his Sanitation Workers Appreciation Day address to the pending changes that are to come on stream at the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC). His address as well was published in the commemorative booklet. “The promise of transformation at Solid Waste has been outlined in the new strategy of which I have been briefed and we look forward to its implementation over the next year. Among other things, the strategy includes making employees who join the organization, pensionable, so that upon retirement, you can better afford the services that are necessary for youth everyday comfort that includes you who are currently employed who can satisfy the level of contributions,” Mr. Hamilton said.

The service was replete with a steel pan selection and the prize giving ceremony to noteworthy sanitation workers from the Environmental Health Department and the SWMC. Pastor Elsworth Warner delivered the message for the day.