Outgoing Ms. Josephine Huggins and incoming Dr. Marcus Natta
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. Terrance Drew today appointed 40-year-old scientist, Dr Marcus Natta as the new Cabinet Secretary.
Dr Natta replaced octogenarian Josephine Huggins for the key government post.
The chemical engineer received his early learning from Newtown Primary, Basseterre Junior High and Basseterre High Schools excelling at every level.
The new cabinet secretary in 2002 graduated from Cameron University in Oklahoma, USA, with dual Bachelors of Science degrees in Physics and Mathematics.
At Cameron, Dr Natta became an active member and served with several campus organisations and university committees. These included the Student Government Association, where he served two years as a senator for the Physics Department. He also helped found, and later served, as president of the Students of the Caribbean Alliance (SOCA)—an organisation that still exists.
Currently, he serves as interim president of the Ghetto Roots Basketball Club and public relations officer (PRO) for the Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. He is also the co-founder and chairman of the William Marcus Natta Memorial Scholarship Fund which was established on April 8, 2010 to encourage primary school students in St. Kitts and Nevis to strive for academic and civic excellence.
The newly-appointed Cabinet Secretary earned his doctoral degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in August 2008. While there, he served as a member of the University Graduate Council and the Graduate Student Association, in which he served as vice-chair of external affairs. He was also vice president of the Black Graduate Student Association.
Dr Natta’s research and professional interests include: characterisation of novel materials; radiation detection and measurement; sound management of chemicals and waste; environmental protection, and climate resiliency.
Sources in the twin-island Federation have praised PM Drew’s choice of cabinet secretary pointing to his broad-based knowledge and wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors. Many have theorized that Dr. Natta will enhance cabinet meetings, thus greatly helping the administration fulfilling its manifesto promises.
As the new Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Natta is expected to officiate at his first Cabinet meeting today.
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