BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Oct 20, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew will return to St. Kitts and Nevis on Saturday, more than a month after he was flown to the United States for urgent medical treatment, Acting Prime Minister, Dr. Geoffrey Hanley has announced.
In a nationwide radio and television broadcast, Hanley said the phrase God is good, takes on a deeper meaning when “life confronts us with circumstances that remind us just how precious life is and how quickly our circumstances can change”.
He recalled that it was on August 30, Prime Minister Drew left the twin island Federation for medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Drew, 49, a medical practitioner later confirmed that he had suffered a stroke, saying that it was dissection of one of the arteries in the back of his brain called the vertebral artery, “and even though I suffered that stroke, the limitations on my mind and body, those limitations have been well controlled and well managed”.
Hanley told the nation that Prime Minister Drew has since spoken openly about that experience and has recently shared with the nation that he has successfully completed rehabilitation, received an excellent medical assessment, and has been cleared by his doctors to resume his full official duties.
“For this, we give Almighty God all the praise and gratitude,” Hanley added.
“Illness does not recognise titles or positions. It does not consider one’s age, profession, financial circumstances, or responsibilities.It can interrupt the busier schedule and change the course of an ordinary day.
“In those moments, what matters most is the care available to us, (3:08) the people standing beside us, and the strength we find in faith,” Hanley said, adding that “it is with a heart full of gratitude that I share with you hat on Saturday, October 24th, our Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Terence Drew, will return home to St. Kitts and Nevis.
“He returns to the land of his birth, to the people he loves and serves, and to the work to which he has dedicated himself. Following his return, the government will host a national thanksgiving service at the National Heroes Park, and I warmly our citizens and residents to come out, welcome our Prime Minister home, and join us in giving thanks to Almighty God. “
But he insisted that “this moment is about more than the return of our Prime Minister. It is a celebration of faith, of hope, of the strength of our institutions, and of a people who understand the importance of standing together when it matters most.”
He said that the past weeks have taught citizens that “ we must never become so divided by our differences that we forget our shared humanity.
“We are our brothers and our sisters’ keeper. When one family hurts, we should care.When one of us faces difficulty, the rest of us should be willing to extend a hand. That spirit of compassion, togetherness, and responsibility for one another is part of what it truly means to be Kittitian Nevisian”.
CMC/a/g/ir/2027