sqlite: runTest failed Error: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'java.lang.String com.getcapacitor.community.database.sqlite.CapacitorSQLite.echo(java.lang.String)' on a null object reference`

I have an Ionic 6 application using Angular (13).

I followed the steps in the documentation:

1. Created a sqlite.service.ts and copied in the service provided.
2. Added service to my app.module.ts as a provider.
3. Added the following into app.component.ts

initializeApp() {
    this.platform.ready().then(async () => {
      this.statusBar.styleDefault();
      this.splashScreen.hide();
      this._sqlite.initializePlugin().then(ret => {
        this.initPlugin = ret;
        console.log('>>>> in App  this.initPlugin ' + this.initPlugin);
      });
    });

which returns the following when launching the app: >>>> in App this.initPlugin true

In my page I have the following:

constructor(private translate: TranslateService,
              private sqlite: SQLiteService) { }

async ngOnInit(): Promise<void> {
    try {
      await this.runTest();
    } catch (err) {
      console.log(`$$$ runTest failed ${err.message}`);
    }
  }

async runTest(): Promise<void> {
    try {
      let result: any = await this.sqlite.echo("Hello World");
      console.log(" from Echo " + result.value);

      // ************************************************
      // Create Database No Encryption
      // ************************************************

      // initialize the connection
      let db = await this.sqlite
                  .createConnection("testEncryption", false, "no-encryption", 1);

      // open db testEncryption
      await db.open();

      await this.sqlite.closeConnection("testEncryption"); 

      return Promise.resolve();

    } catch (err) {
      return Promise.reject(err);
    }
  }

When I go to the page I am getting the following error:

``$$$ runTest failed Error: Attempt to invoke virtual method ‘java.lang.String com.getcapacitor.community.database.sqlite.CapacitorSQLite.echo(java.lang.String)’ on a null object reference

Any insight as to what I am doing wrong?