Former St. Kitts-Nevis Governor Dies

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-Nevis, March 13, 2017 (CMC) – Prime Minister, Dr. Timothy Harris, is leading the nation in mourning the death of former Governor Sir Probyn Inniss, who died Sunday at the age of 80.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to Lady Rosamund Inniss, the wife for some 55 years of His Excellency Sir Probyn Inniss, MBE, and to their three children…their grandchildren and other family members,” Prime Minister Harris said,

“The government and people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis join with them to mourn the tremendous loss of Sir Probyn Inniss, whose thumbprint will forever be on the annals of history,” he added.

St. Kitts-Nevis PM, Dr. Timothy Harris (right) greets Lady Rosamund Inniss, at church, in a recent photo. Sir Probyn Inniss is in the background. Photo contributed.

He said Sir Probyn rendered distinguished service as a Governor; civil servant; heritage proponent, most notably as the longstanding President of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society; historian; lawyer; preacher in the Methodist Church St. Kitts Circuit; teacher, and writer.

“Sir Probyn Inniss was a man who made significant contributions to the nation – not for recognition, but for love of country. Sir Probyn was a fitting exemplar of St. Kitts and Nevis’ motto Country Above Self, and he will be deeply, deeply missed by all those whose lives he touched.”

Sir Probyn served as Governor from 1975 to 1981 and was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in 1976.

A graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Inns of Court School of Law, he received the Super Lion Award at Chancellor Hall in 1976.

He authored numerous books, including Methodism in St. Kitts in 2006; Historic Basseterre (1979); Whither Bound St. Kitts-Nevis? (1983); Memorable Quotations (2002); and Forty Years of Struggle, The Birth of the Labour Movement (2005).