St John’s, July 2015. The Delegate for the Caribbean of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, HE Anthony Bailey visited Antigua and Barbuda from 15-16 June 2015 and visited the charitable projects launched by the Order in the country in 2014 in partnership with the Roman Catholic Diocese of St John’s-Basseterre. During the visit, the Delegate was received by His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda at Government House. A joint meeting with the Prime Minister, Hon Gaston Browne and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Charles Fernandez, was held on 15 June 2015 at the Office of the Prime Minister. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the Holy See, HE Mr David Shoul, and Dr Xhoana Papakostandini, Chief of Staff to the Delegate.
Mr Bailey visited the construction sites of the St Joseph’s and St Patrick’s Catholic Church and of St Joseph’s Academy, accompanied by Ambassador David Shoul and the Vicar General, the Very Reverend Pierre-Tevi Benissan.
The renovation of the former Roman Catholic Cathedral is underway and it is planned to be completed be the end of 2015. The works of the new West Wing of St Joseph’s Academy are now at an advanced stage and the new facilities, including modern classrooms and the school’s main staff offices, will be completed in time for the start of the new academic year in September 2015.
The visit to the sites was followed by a technical meeting with the Building Commission at the Bishop’s Residence in St John’s to discuss in details the advancement of each project.
Later Anthony Bailey together with Ambassador Shoul paid a visit to the historic Anglican Cathedral of St John the Divine in St John’s which is also undergoing major renovation works. Anthony met with the Dean, the Rev Rudolph Smithen and discussed Constantinian Order’s expected support towards the completion of the project.
His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda and HE Lady Williams hosted a dinner in honour of Mr Bailey at the Sandals Resort attended by Ambassador Shoul and Mrs Shoul and Dr Xhoana Papakostandini.
The Constantinian Order’s charitable and community engagement in Antigua and Barbuda in the areas of national and religious patrimony and community outreach is part of a wider regional charitable programme underway in Dominica, St Lucia and Grenada.
To view photos from this visit, please see our Facebook page.