I warmly bring you greetings from my fellow Cabinet colleagues and the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

A French revolutionary once proclaimed that “After bread - Education,” highlighting education as the most basic necessity after those that are vital to life itself because it lifts people out of the state of chronic poverty in which they are constantly struggling to fulfill basic needs. We all know and recognize that people have a right to have their basic needs fulfilled, and they also have a right to education.

The Moravian Church since its formation in the 15th Century recognized this basic right and it was a driving force behind the churches missionary work in the Caribbean including Antigua and Barbuda.

The Church’s role in shaping the minds of our people, spiritually and educationally is unparalleled. In 1756, Samuel Isles and his colleagues Joseph Newby and Samuel Watson established that education was their sacred responsibility in Antigua and Barbuda. They were guided by the wisdom of Moravian bishop John Amos Comenius, who is known to educators everywhere as the Father of Modern Education The importance of education was quite clear to the Moravians. Through their work in Antigua and Barbuda and in the Caribbean, the early Moravian Missionaries demonstrated that education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to maximum use.

The Moravians work in Education, from under the Sandbox Tree to over fourteen schools and a college in Antigua and Barbuda by 1888, provided that great hope for the survival of our people and for the forward progress of civilization here.

The selfless dedication to work by the Missionaries, as documented in 1732 by a group leaving Herrnhut for the West Indies, where they proclaimed, and I quote, “I decided that if another brother would like to accompany me, I would give myself over to slavery in order to tell them as much as I have learned about our Saviour. I am ready to do this because I firmly believe that the Word of the Cross is able to rescue souls even in degraded conditions,” end of quote.

I am deeply honoured to share this momentous occasion with you, since the Moravian Church in Antigua and Barbuda embodies, espouses and promotes true Christian values and continues to contribute greatly to the character of our society. The work of the church as a spiritual guide, influencing the moral principles essential to building strong communities, is deserving of our nation’s enduring gratitude. The church has been a valuable partner to the government, in tackling the problems with our young people. I am grateful to the Church for this. Let us continue to work together to make our nation more considerate, more conscious and a better place for every citizen and resident.

I congratulate the Moravian Church on achieving this milestone and thank the church for the invaluable service to the Antiguan and Barbudan society. May the Unity, humanitarian and godly spirit of the Moravian Church continue to burn bright throughout this land of ours. And may richest blessings continued to be showered upon us all.

Thank You