Denzil Douglas pays tribute to party stalwart and pastor John Mills-Gardener

Parliamentary Representative for St Christopher 6, the Rt Hon Dr Denzil L Douglas has joined the communities of Saddlers, Harris' and the environs in expressing sadness at the passing of John Mills-Gardener - one of their favourite sons.

Mills-Gardener passed away Saturday night (June 15) at J N France General Hospital after a brief illness.

Comrade Brother John Mills-Gardener of Saddlers Village, Constituency #6 has left us late on Saturday 15th June at the JNF General Hospital after a relatively short illness.

In a message of sympathy, Dr Douglas told Mills-Gardner's wife, Orvis, daughter Shani Esdaille and her children Zahra Esdaille and J’kuan Liverpool that they have "lost a dear and loving Husband, Father and Grandfather."

"Comrade John’s siblings including his only sister, Mrs Marjorie Finch-Langley have lost a reliable and devoted brother. His Nieces and Nephews have lost Uncle John who was always there for them irrespective of the task. Brother John’s Pastors, fellow Lay Preachers and Members of the Saddlers Pentecostal Church of God will surely miss this “Born Again” Christian who has served his God for most of his life," said Dr Douglas.

Dr Douglas said also that the Constituency #6 Labour Branch Executive, the National Executive of the St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) and members and supporters of the Labour Movement "will remember Comrade John as a stalwart, having served at almost every level of the movement to advance the cause for socio-economic and political justice that we have been fighting for since 1932."

"We will miss Cde John as a kind-hearted, loving, soft spoken community activist who got along with everyone," said Dr Douglas, who added that Bro John "will be eulogised for his national services as a retired public servant having served as an educator, especially an Adult Education, teacher, electoral officer and most recently as a reliable advocate and employee in Public Safety and Security."

"He will be surely missed by all of us, his family, his comrades, retired public servants, his employees, his Church and community, but thanks be to God that he’s now resting in the arms of Jesus in eternal peace, having pursued a purposeful life and now called home in glory," said Dr Douglas who called for his family members to be remembered "in our prayers and support as they come to terms with the permanence of life’s separation and the severity of loss of a loved one, but with the hope that Comrade John will live again in a better place."